Thousands of young footballers aren't the only thing that the Kanga Cup has brought to Canberra.
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The largest junior football tournament in the southern hemisphere has also brought with it a large windfall to the ACT's economy, receiving a $5.2 million boost this week.
Many of Canberra's hotels have reported being at 100 per cent capacity this week due to the tournament, with restaurants and tourist attractions reporting a surge in patronage.
More than 4500 players from 322 teams are taking part in this year's tournament, along with several thousand more coaches, parents and support staff.
Tournament director Megan Salic said many Canberra businesses had received a large increase in visitor numbers due to the Kanga Cup.
"More teams and people are in town, and more people need to eat and shop and find entertainment for the kids," Ms Salic said.
"We know that a lot of restaurants are busy, and lots have been booked out in advance for the large teams."
While around 25 per cent of teams are from the Canberra area, many have travelled from interstate and as far away as New Zealand, the Philippines and South Korea for the tournament.
Australian Hotels Association ACT branch general manager Anthony Brierley said the competition had delivered a surge in hotel bookings for the national capital, after a slower start to the year.
"Kanga Cup is historically one of the busier periods for Canberra hotels," Mr Brierley said.
"Events like the Kanga Cup are crucial to even out the peaks and troughs that frustratingly but typically define Canberra's hotel performance."
More teams and people are in town, and more people need to eat and shop and find entertainment for the kids.
- Tournament director Megan Salic
The association's general manager said the Kanga Cup helped to deliver encouraging signs for Canberra's tourism industry in a normally quieter season for visitor numbers.
"This is a much needed boost for hospitality businesses," he said.
"More money in hospitality businesses means more breathing room for businesses up against a wall in a competitive market."
Research into Kanga Cup tournaments has shown around 8500 people coming to the ACT for the event, staying a combined 43,000 visitor nights during the week-long competition.
An Events ACT spokesman said the research also showed two-thirds of visitors to the Kanga Cup indicated they would visit other tourist attraction in the ACT during the event.
"The event is one that is highly anticipated by its participants, with many of those visiting teams from interstate and overseas making the pilgrimage to the nation's capital year after year," the spokesman said.
"This high level of repeat visitation plays an important role in creating positive perceptions of Canberra."
Ms Salic said many of the participants said they were intending to spend extra days in Canberra following the tournament.
"Some think of this as a family holiday, and they stay for a few days later, and after the cup finishes up, it flows on to other parts of Canberra and the snow," she said.