STEUBENVILLE - The Riverview Soccer Spectacular, a new regional youth soccer tournament to be held Oct. 9-10, announced its official corporate sponsors today.

The tournament games will be played at the Jefferson Kiwanis Youth Soccer Club complex at the Jefferson County Air Park and at the Catholic Central High School athletic complex off St. Charles Drive.

The sponsors are Trinity Health System, Steubenville Electrical LMCC, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Alliance, Steubenville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Steubenville Kiwanis Club. The official host hotel will be the Hampton Inn of Steubenville, and the Fort Steuben Mall will sponsor a Fun Zone.

Organizers say the tournament should be a major economic boost in the area, with between 4,000 and 7,000 players, coaches, families and spectators expected to attend during the two-day tournament. The goal is to attract about 100 teams from up to a three-hour driving radius.

The impact on the area could be as much as $600,000, according to Arnold Zirkes of NetResults, who is organizing the event.

The soccer tournament is a fundraising event for the Jefferson Kiwanis Youth Soccer Club, which built and maintains the fields at the county airport. The program was formed in 1978 with about 60 children. As of this fall, the soccer club is expected to involve 900 young players taking part in one or all of the fall, winter and spring soccer seasons.

For information about the Riverview Soccer Spectacular or for anyone interested in becoming a sponsor, advertiser or volunteer during the weekend, visit www.riverviewsoccerspectacular.com or call Arnold Zirkes at (740) 457-3501 or e-mail him at azirkes@juno.com.

(Giannamore can be contacted at pgiannamore@heraldstaronline.com.)