The Soccer Tournament (TST) is drawing thousands of soccer fans to WakeMed Soccer Park.
Young athletes are making the most of all the offerings. Throughout Opening Day, there have been opportunities to meet their favorite professional players, play games, and grab fresh gear.
“It’s a lot of activities, and it’s fun,” said Noah Acebedo.
“We watched our older team play,” said Ryder Ziegler.
“I had a lot of fun. I watched my dad play soccer, and we took a lot of pictures,” said Claire Futagaki.
“You can get autographs, unlike like when you’re in a professional game … you can’t get a lot of autographs,” said Moises Aponte Garcia.
“This is actually my second year. It’s amazing, it’s amazing. It’s growing so fast. We actually have a youth team in it,” said Sanford parent Hope Geist. “It’s just awesome to see the kids come together.”
ABC11 talks with Bumpy Pitch’s Christian Gutierrez, one of the players on last year’s winning men’s team at TST.
The international event is offering some of North Carolina small businesses scores of sales.
“It helps us be welcoming to everybody that’s coming in, showcasing Southern hospitality and giving everybody a chance to really try North Carolina pulled pork,” said Longleaf Swine Head Chef David Mitchell.
Longleaf Swine, Narrative Coffee, Two Roosters Ice Cream, and Dinkers Glazed Nuts are some of the vendors serving up a taste of what the Tar Heel State has to offer.
“It’s one thing to have an event of this size in our area. I’ve always looked at North Carolina and Charlotte as the big city, and I’m seeing the Triangle start to come up with these bigger events. So for us to have the opportunity to come out, it’s a big deal for us, especially being a small business,” said Dinker Founder Devon Rice.
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