The NSW Junior State Cup gets underway on Friday, February 15 with some 11,000 players, spectators and officials estimated to be attending the event.

And while that attendance figure may look ominous, it is actually a drop of about 30 per cent on last year's junior touch football event.

NSW Touch Football Association general manager Dean Russell said the decision to split the tournament into two conferences had been vindicated.

“We simply could not have run the tournament in its current format in Port Macquarie over three days,” he said.

“We would have been looking at another six or seven thousand people in town; it’s a great monster to have, but it is a monster.”

Despite the decision to host two conferences, Port Macquarie will still likely see an economic impact estimated to be worth between $8 million and $9 million.

Leisure Tourist Park relieving general manager Tammy Clifton says their outlet is completely booked.

"And every booking is touch football related," she said. "This is like Christmas time; totally booked out.

"Having this event obviously brings a lot of people to the city. And even if they are coming just for this event, it helps promote our entire area to new visitors.

"It is a great benefit for everyone."

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Waters Edge Boutique Hotel front office supervisor Molly Pascoe says the accommodation outlet is sitting at around 80 per cent capacity on Thursday morning.

"And virtually all those bookings are touch football related bookings," she said.

"These bookings are being fielded from all over the state and we have even had some last minute bookings come in since Monday.

"In previous years we have been totally booked out, but this year the decision was made to split the competition into two conferences."

The event will see some 240 teams competing for the top prize in their respective age divisions.

The winners from the two conferences will play off in the NSW Junior State Cup Final series at Wollongong on April 27 and 28.

A mammoth 438 teams in total (198 in the south and 240 in the north) will all vie for their spot in the finals – an increase of 81 teams from last year.

Three of Port Macquarie’s 10 teams are in form following their under-10 girls, under-16 boys and under-18 boys wins in the Northern Eagles championships in Taree last month.

Port Macquarie junior president Min Cotter was satisfied there would be less teams for the Makos to challenge themselves against.

They do have to overcome Manly – the most successful affiliate club in junior state cup history. The Sea Eagles are aiming for their eighth club championship in a row and ninth in the last 10 years.

“We probably haven’t got as many city teams as the southern conference,” Ms Cotter said.

“But we have got the strongest affiliate in Manly and the Manly girls especially win nearly everything, so I’d never call it a country championships because there are city teams.”

A quarter-final result for their teams could earn their ticket to the final in April.

“After such a long training schedule of six months for a lot of the kids, if they win the northern conference there is no definitive champion after three days,” the junior president said.

A detailed Traffic Management Plan includes continuous shuttle buses from the CBD and Flynns Beach out to the venue, running from 6am to 8pm. 

Additional free buses will also operate during peak times, extra staff will be deployed to manage traffic along Boundary Street, and signalling changes will occur at Boundary Street to improve traffic flow.

Looking to take a flight from Port Macquarie Airport from Friday, February 15?

Better plan ahead, according to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

Tuffins Lane will be inundated with close to 11,000 players, spectators and officials for the 2019 version of the NSW Junior State Cup.

Council has put in place some temporary road closures to accommodate the event.

Tuffins Lane will be closed from 7am until 7pm on Friday February 15, from 7am until 7.30pm on Saturday February 16 and 7am until 4pm on Sunday February 17.

The road closure will be sign-posted to assist traffic detour and control.

A high level of traffic is also expected along Hastings River Drive and Boundary Street during these times resulting in some delays. 

Residents are encouraged to plan ahead with their travel requirements around these areas.

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