It's an event bringing hundreds of players, staff, friends and family members from all corners of South Dakota to Rapid City.  The South Dakota State High School Soccer Tournament kicked off Thursday and coordinators say the competition has a big impact on the city's economy.   28 teams spanning the entire state are represented at the tournament.  Coordinators say this particular competition is unique in that it features teams not yet officially sanctioned by their high schools, rather playing as clubs affiliated with their high schools.South Dakota Soccer President Rich Jensen says his organization is offering these teams a chance to compete which wouldn't exist otherwise.  Jensen says, "In time, it could take four or five years, our hope is to see a lot of these become sanctioned with their schools and go play in the sanctioned tournament which was last weekend, but until that happens, we're going to maintain a place for these kids to play and put tournaments on and come to places like Rapid City, because it's just a great place to play."

The Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau says they use a fairly conservative formula that puts the estimated direct spending from the tournament at about $150,000.  They did say when you factor in family, friends and fans the tournament brings with it, that number could be in the $300,000 range.

Brendyn Medina