Photos by RENEE BRACAMONTE/Tucson Citizen Nick Johnson (51) rallies his Broncos team during halftime of an American Youth Football playoff game in November.

The weeklong American Youth Football event, which changes locations every year, is expected to bring in about 14,000 visitors, according to the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was held in Orlando, Fla., last Nov. 30-Dec. 4.

City and county officials are set to announce the event at a Wednesday press conference. Dates and fields have not been set, but the cheerleading competition is planned for the Tucson Convention Center.

Local players, coaches and parents are ecstatic because it means teams will not have to raise travel money through car washes and other fund-raisers.

"It's going to be great," said coach Steve Karp, whose Marana Broncos Pee Wee team won the national title last year in Orlando. "Last year Tucson could have taken eight teams, but only two were able to raise enough money."

Karp's team, made up of players 11 and younger, had to come up with $28,000 to make the trip to Orlando. The Broncos, who outscored opponents 501-20 in 2004, beat Inglewood (Calif.) 30-12 for the title.

"We'll see a lot more local teams (this year)," Karp said. "It's huge that all the parents and coaches will be able to watch the other teams. They will see what the national championship teams look like."

Debbie Walkovich, coordinator for the Tucson Cowboys cheerleading squads, took three teams to the championships in Orlando last year and one won a national title.

"This will bring in teams from all over the country," Walkovich said. "We are hoping for more than 100 cheer squads and 50 to 80 football teams" to compete.

Cameroon Craig (28) leads the Broncos onto the field for a playoff game.

The $6.5 million economic impact would be the sixth-biggest for an event held in Tucson, the visitors bureau said.

That would place it just ahead of the Coldwell Banker Shootout, a youth soccer tournament that pumps an estimated $4 million into the local economy in mid-January.

The American Youth Football competitions include youths ages 9 to 15.

"I'm very happy to have the championship here, and it's great for Tucson," said Jerry Dini, president of the Tucson Youth Football and Spirit Federation.

Dini was inducted into the American Youth Football Hall of Fame in December.

He oversees 15 local football programs, including the newly formed Vail Vikings. Teams can qualify for the national championships by winning a city title.

In addition to the Marana Broncos' national title, the Oro Valley Dolphins took second in the junior midget football event last year. And three local cheer squads won national titles (see below).

Stuart Karp, 13, a Broncos Midgets player and son of Steve Karp, said it will be nice to have all his family and friends attend the games.

"It also gives you the feeling that you want to protect (your turf), Stuart Karp said. "You don't want to lose the title to another (city) because you are in your hometown."

ECONOMIC IMPACT:

Event: Amount (in millions)
1. Gem shows: $76.5
2. Spring training: $20.0
3. Tucson rodeo: $13.5
4. PGA Tour golf tournament: $13.0
5. El Tour de Tucson: $12.0
6. Youth football championship: $6.5
7. Coldwell Banker Shootout (soccer): $4.0

Source: Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau