CENTRE — After local Dixie Youth officials attended a state tournament a year ago, they realized the city of Centre was capable of putting on a similar event that could be even bigger and better.

In a few more weeks, several months of planning and preparation will culminate in the 2011 Ozone State Tournament, a seven-day round-robin that begins Friday, July 22 and ends with the crowning of a new champion July 28.

"We went to Eufaula last year and got some good ideas," said local Dixie Youth president Kevin Green. "We saw some things we wanted to change. In fact, whoever is hosting next year will be at ours this year to do the same thing."

After selling the idea to the Centre City Council, Green and other local Dixie Youth officials put together a bid to host the tournament.

"You can only host the tournament every two to three years," Green explained. "Once you have your capital outlay you can come back and bid on it and not have some of the major expenses from the first time."

Improvements to the city's fields include rebuilding the parking lot, upgrading bathrooms and extending one field to meet Dixie Youth regulations for the Ozone (11-12 age group) league.

Each year, the host city gets a free bid to play in the tournament, so 11 other teams will join one from Cherokee County when play begins next month.

Green said he plans to reach out to local civic groups in the weeks ahead because of the need for dozens of volunteers to help with parking, concessions and hospitality for the teams, coaches and families who will be calling Cherokee County home for as long as a week.

"We've already had a lady volunteer to repaint all the picnic tables at the park," Green said.

Green said the city and county stand to benefit economically from the tournament.

"We have 86 hotel rooms booked in Cherokee County and another hundred in Etowah and DeKalb," Green said. "Dixie Youth requires a minimum of 15 rooms at any one location so some of our smaller motels did not meet the requirement."

Centre Mayor Tony Wilkie is appreciative of the efforts of so many to see that the tournament will be successful.

"We're very proud of everyone who has been involved, from city employees to volunteers," Wilkie said. "They have already put in countless hours to make this a huge success. We're excited for the city and the entire county to host a tournament of this size."

Green said some of the unique aspects of this year's tournament include the opening ceremonies -- complete with a 3D laser light show, a magic, comedy and juggling act by performer Mark Nizer, and individual player introductions -- at the Cherokee Arena at Gadsden State in Centre at 7:30 p.m. on July 22.

"The opening ceremonies will be open to the public and we hope everyone will come out and see it," Green said.

Anyone volunteers who want to work the tournament can call Green at 256-484-1844.