Kudus – A soccer tournament does more than just drive match play on the pitch. From dawn until dusk, thousands of people navigate between various locations. Athletes travel from their lodgings to the stadium, officials ensure the entire schedule proceeds as planned, and spectators arrive from across the region to witness the competition.
During the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026, held from July 5 – 12, 2026, at the Supersoccer Arena in Kudus, such mobility became a vital component supporting the tournament's success. Beyond the travel to the stadium, transport companies, bus operators, and local transit drivers all played a role in ensuring the smooth execution of the event's activities.
For these operators, the tournament provided more than just passengers. The national-scale sporting event opened new business opportunities and brought together various transportation stakeholders into a mutually supportive ecosystem.
The 150-kilometer distance between Yogyakarta and Kudus did not deter PT Gelis Gedhe Maju Mandiri from participating in the tournament's logistics. The vehicle rental firm was entrusted with providing four medium buses to transport athletes from their lodgings to the Supersoccer Arena throughout the competition.
Company owner Agus Wahyuno views this trust not merely as a business opportunity, but as a commitment to supporting youth soccer development in Indonesia.
“As business owners, we certainly welcome this event. Beyond fostering the growth of national sports, we are also able to contribute to sports development while expanding our own operations. We are proud to collaborate with major organizers and provide support through our services,” Agus Wahyuno said in a telephone interview.
The trust placed by the organizers was met with thorough preparation. All vehicles underwent rigorous inspections, from engine condition and cabin cleanliness to vehicle maintenance, ensuring the athletes' commute was both safe and comfortable.
According to Agus, service quality was paramount, as their vehicles were in daily use throughout the duration of the tournament.
“As members of the Indonesian public, we truly welcome this activity. We have long known Djarum for its significant contributions to badminton, and now it is providing excellent support for soccer. In terms of preparation, we ensured every vehicle met the standards of roadworthiness and cleanliness expected by the organizers. That is why we prepared medium buses in optimal condition, ready for service,” he added.
Although this marks his first experience supporting a women’s soccer tournament in Kudus, Agus believes the partnership opens doors for collaboration on future sports events.
For transportation service providers, the sustainability of sports agendas offers benefits that extend beyond vehicle rentals. Regularly held events create consistent demand for transportation while simultaneously expanding professional partnerships with organizers.
The tournament’s positive impact also reached local public minivan drivers in Kudus. Throughout the competition, the movement of participants and spectators significantly boosted demand for urban transport.
Among those benefiting was Arif Kurniawan Nur, a driver who secured multiple charters to transport students and team officials to the Supersoccer Arena.
Amid shifting public transportation trends toward ride-hailing services, the influx of tournament-related passengers provided a welcome boost.
"As a minivan driver, events like this are a great help. It’s my first time, and I hope there will be more in the future. Compared to typical days, there was a noticeable increase in passengers and chartered orders. Business is usually quiet now due to the popularity of online transportation, so this has been quite helpful, thank God," he said.
Arif was not the only driver to benefit. On the tournament's final day, eight public minivans were utilized to transport participants. In previous days, the number of vehicles involved ranged from ten to twelve units.
For the drivers, the opportunity provides additional income while demonstrating that public minivans still play a role in supporting national-scale events.
The hosting of the HYDROPLUS Soccer League All Stars 2025/2026 demonstrates that the impact of a sporting event extends well beyond the stadium. The movement of athletes, officials, staff, and spectators creates demand for various supporting services, including transportation.
In this process, businesses of all sizes have the opportunity to contribute according to their capacity. Bus operators facilitate mobility between locations, while public minivans assist in transporting participants and spectators within the Kudus area.
These transportation needs complement other sectors that gain momentum during the tournament, including hotels, restaurants, souvenir centers, and tourist destinations visited by participants during their downtime.
Throughout the week-long event, these vehicles served as vital links, transporting athletes to the pitch, officials to their duties, and spectators to matches.
As the competition concluded and the delegations returned to their home regions, transportation activity gradually returned to normal. However, for local businesses, the experience left behind more than just increased travel volume.
For fleet operators, the tournament provided a chance to build trust and forge new partnerships. Meanwhile, for the minivan drivers, the rise in ridership served as proof that major sporting events can deliver direct economic benefits to the community.
These journeys illustrate that a tournament does more than connect teams to a stadium; it drives the local economy. Every vehicle transporting athletes to a match simultaneously strengthens the sports tourism supply chain growing alongside sports events in Kudus. (JMY/mainkekudus)