Brewers and Distillers Cup brings together a love of craft and soccer

Ron Patel knows a thing or two about soccer. He is also a fan of local craft beer and spirits, and back before he rejoined the front-office staff at New Mexico United, Patel came up with an idea of how to bring all that he loves together in one event.

The Brewers & Distillers Cup is the result, a five-on-five co-ed soccer tournament wrapped around a craft festival. It will take place Saturday at Balloon Fiesta Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are still available online.

Patel said the idea originated in a conversation with an old friend and business partner.

“The end of last year, Larry Espinosa and myself — we worked together on the Albuquerque Sol — we looked at some cool things to do,” Patel said. “How do we match breweries and soccer? There’s no such thing as an original idea. We’d seen the Brewers Cup in Oregon (and) thought this is kind of neat. What can we do in Albuquer

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