The Big Bear Classic Soccer Tournament is making a comeback for its 25th year in Revelstoke.
Following an unanticipated hiatus last year, the Revelstoke RFC men’s soccer club-hosted event is scheduled to take place on the weekend of June 24 to 26, with a beer garden opening at 4 p.m. in Queen Elizabeth Park on Friday, June 24, and games being played Saturday and Sunday at QE and Centennial parks.
Event co-ordinator Serge Spataro says there are currently 12 men’s teams (at least one from Revelstoke), and six women’s teams (two from Revelstoke) set to play during the event. Other teams are coming from Calgary, Kelowna, Williams Lake, Cranbrook and Invermere.
Spataro said last-minute cancellations by teams led to the cancellation of last year’s tournament. While the Revelstoke RFC usually try to look after organizing and running the tournament alone (it’s the club’s main fundraiser for the year), local businesses have come onboard this year with discounts to encourage teams to come and stay in Revelstoke.
“It’s always been a good, competitive soccer tournament…,” said Spataro. “Unfortunately, interest in tournaments seems to be going down which is a shame. So we’re just trying to do our best. We’ve got local businesses involved offering really cheap hotels and discounts on food and beverages and stuff like that – trying to make it very cheap for players to come and spend a weekend, not spending $500 to $1,000. They can come and just spend a couple hundred dollars and enjoy themselves.”
Information about the tournament, including a match schedule can be found at http://revelstokemenssoccer.com.