It is no lie, Americans love their beer and lots of it.

According to The Beer Institute’s most recent findings, Arizona’s annual beer consumption rests at 36.4 gallons per person, which falls close behind the leading state of Nevada at 44 gallons.

However, quantity isn’t the area of interest today. The trending focus is on smaller breweries, or microbreweries, that generally host a more profound range of distinct native flavors. According to the brewers association, “Craft beer is beer that is brewed by small, independent and traditional brewers with the finest quality ingredients and is conducted on a limited basis or seasonal basis.”

[caption id="attachment_290" align="alignleft" width="640"]FC Tucson, a local semi-professional soccer team, will be deubting a new 2,000 seat stadium at Kino Sports Complex in 2014. FC Tucson was founded in 2010. / Courtesy of FC Tucson[/caption]

Soccer is not considered Tucson’s sport of choice.

That falls to men’s basketball and football at the university for spectating, golf for leisure.

For head coach Morten Olsen and winger Dennis Rommedahl of the Denmark national soccer team, that was plain to see.

On Jan. 25, the Danish squad faced Canada in a friendly, winning 4-0.

Despite the easy win, Rommedahl, wasn’t too happy with the field conditions at Kino Stadium. Olsen felt the crowd of 3,042 people was lacking.

“It was difficult for us to play the passing football we wanted to play,” said Rommedahl.

Added Olsen, “There weren’t that many people.”

This doesn’t shine brightly on a yearning for soccer for Tucsonans, but Chris Keeney, the chief business officer and co-managing partner for FC Tucson, insists there is a yearning for the sport in this town.

 

[caption id="attachment_287" align="alignright" width="1000"]Canadian defender Doneil Henry prepares to throw the ball in play at Kino Sports Complex on Jan. 26, 2013, in Tucson, Ariz. The matchup between Canada and Denmark was the first international friendly held in the city. (Photo by Kyle Johnson)[/caption]February has long been the month for the snowbirds up North to migrate to the 70-degree, sunny, desert oasis that is Tucson, Ariz.

But, now a new reason to travel to the Old Pueblo is emerging, and it’s proving to be a boon for the local economy — soccer.

The world’s most popular sport isn’t new to the Old Pueblo, but with the recent departure of Spring Training baseball, a vacuum of sports tourism was left. Tucson Councilman Paul Cunningham and several budding entrepreneurs are looking to fill the void with one of the United States fastest growing sports.

Charity events have been going on for years, but with new interactive runs the events have become more about the entertainment than the speed of the race.

With runs like the Color Run, Mud Run, and The Bubble Run, participants nationally are focusing more on the adventure, than the charity. And that spirit has come to Arizona.