By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – One of Bloomington-Normal’s biggest sporting events could be end up getting kicked out of town if it can’t find a venue long-term.

The Illinois Fusion Tournament is hosting more than 160 youth soccer teams from the Midwest and Canada this weekend. But tournament organizers aren’t sure where the tournament will go after 2017 when Community Fields will no longer be available because its lease with Central Illinois Regional Airport will end due to Federal Aviation Administration restrictions.

Tournament director Teresa Dubravec said as it stands now there’s no facility that could hold such an event, and it would be a struggle to find places to play throughout the season. She added the day could come when kids will be fighting for space in every park just to play soccer.

“It’s not real desirable for me to have kids at every little nook and cranny fighting over space for practice and games,” Dubravec said. “They would be overtaking the parks.”

Some local businessmen and community leaders wanted to get a sales tax enacted in 2013 to build a soccer complex and community center, but the two communities passed on the idea. There’s been no movement since.

Critics of a sales tax suggest families who use the soccer fields should pay for a new site. Coaching director Myron King said many parents wouldn’t be able to do that.

“There are many kids in our community that don’t have the financial ability to be able to pay for soccer,” King said.

Illinois Fusion has been running the annual soccer tournament since 2006. It’s the association’s largest fundraiser.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].