CIAA Basketball Tournaments Coming To Baltimore In 2021
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore has netted a college basketball tournament, luring the CIAA away from Charlotte, North Carolina to Charm City.
It also will bring millions of dollars during one of the slowest times of the year.
Bowie State's band marched through the Reginald Lewis Museum on Tuesday, as the college is a member of the CIAA Conference.
The annual basketball tournament is coming to Baltimore in 2021.
"In 2021, we're showing out that first year, that's something exciting and an extravaganza. It really is. Not just a basketball tournament but an extravaganza," said Dr. James Anderson with CIAA.
Made up of 13 historically black universities, the CIAA tournament was held for 13 years in Charlotte, which will continue to host the next two years.
But it was lured to Baltimore after an intense lobbying effort by the City and the state.
Promises of not only athletic facilities, but welcoming events throughout Baltimore.
"I can't say enough how much this partnership means to us and how much the conference means to us," Mayor Pugh said.
There is an estimated $50 million in possible economic impact for hotels, restaurants and bars during the slowest time of the year for tourism.
"The last week in February, when hotels, museums, attractions are suffering, business is not there," said Al Hutchinson, president of Visit Baltimore.
Baltimore hosted the tournament back in 1951.
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