• The panel at the Desert Cup announcement at Kino Sports Complex.

It's definitely nice to see Kino Sports Complex in use (even if I still grumble that it should be located downtown), and as part of what looks to be a busy 2012 for the facility, FC Tucson announced that four Major League Soccer teams will participate in a four night tournament held between February 22 and March 3. Two additional teams could also come for spring training, but not play in the tournament. Four fields at Kino will be converted for a month, and with the stadium which will be set up soccer-style for the tournament itself, will all be returned to baseball form.

Nelson Rodriguez from Major League Soccer was optimistic that this second go-around for the Desert Cup (which brought over 10,000 fans to its final night this year at Hi Corbett) could be the start of an expanded presence in Tucson for the league, including 12-14 teams here for spring training, player combines, a soccer convention, and community interaction.