CHARLOTTE — It doesn’t look like the CIAA tournament will be returning to Charlotte any time soon.
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott announced that the Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournament has extended its run in Baltimore for 2024 and 2025 following a successful first year in 2022.
“I personally could not be more excited that the CIAA has found its home in Charm City at the Royal Farms Arena for the next three years,” said Scott. “The tournament provides an opportunity for the City, State, local businesses, and our communities to come together to highlight Black excellence by providing an incredible tournament experience. The CIAA Tournament staying in Baltimore is a win for all involved. It generates a strong economic impact for our city each year and greatly benefits students who attend or are looking to attend historically Black colleges and universities.”
City leaders said the extension follows the successful economic impact of the 2022 tournament at the Royal Farms Arena.
“I am grateful to the twelve university presidents and chancellors for making the decision to extend the tournament’s run in Baltimore until 2025,” said Al Hutchinson, President and CEO of Visit Baltimore. “The decision to extend the tournament for another two years is not one that we take lightly as it shows great confidence in Baltimore’s ability to grow the tournament year over year. We welcome the opportunity to continue showing why Baltimore is a great home for the CIAA.”
The tournament will be held in Baltimore from Feb. 20 until Feb. 26 in 2023.
The tournament was held in the Queen City for 15 consecutive years, but it moved to Baltimore this year. It drew 36,000 fans this year and had an impact of about $19.6 million on Baltimore’s local economy.
In 2019, the CIAA yielded more than $43 million for Charlotte.
City leaders told Channel 9′s Dashawn Brown that they were pushing hard to get the tournament back.
“You don’t miss what you have until it’s gone,” Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham said. “We know how to do the tournament, but we have to make sure that all the parties involved, which is the hotels, don’t take advantage of people anymore in terms of upping the prices. Spectrum arena and the management there making the facilities available for the
This week, the city pitched renovations to the Spectrum Center aimed at bringing more tourists and money to Charlotte.
“It’s hard to fill hotels in the month of February,” Graham said. “I think the hotels are missing it, as well as the local bars and restaurants.”
Among those restaurants is Mert’s Heart and Soul. The owner’s daughter told Channel 9 that the CIAA tournament is one event that helped sustain them during one of their slowest seasons.
While it is possible that the CIAA could decide to have an open bidding or another extension, Baltimore city leaders said they are willing to fight to keep the tournament.
Graham said if that doesn’t happen, Charlotte will have more than three years to get ready.
(RELATED: At least 2 injured in shooting during CIAA party, police say)
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