Thousands pack Uptown for March Madness

CHARLOTTE — It’s pure madness in Uptown Thursday as thousands of fans pack into the Spectrum Center for a day full of great games.

It’s good news for Uptown businesses and hotels as they continue to bounce back after the pandemic.

The spotlight is on Charlotte for the next four days as some of the best teams in college basketball battle it out at the Spectrum Center.

All of Thursday, Center City was bustling, the light rail cars bursting at the seams.

Hotel owner Vinay Patel says his properties are booked with fans.

“Since Covid, it’s been events and sports that brought demand back,” he said.

Ten hotels are housing all the college basketball teams and officials in town for the big dance.

That includes the Westin, which is housing Tennessee’s team.

That’s where Steve Daly, a volunteer with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, is to help guide people through Uptown. He says spirits are high.

“Right now, the big boys are walking around this hotel lobby,” Daly says. “All 6-foot-10 of them and they are looking pretty intimidating so they might win tonight.”

Daly says the real winner in all of this is the city of Charlotte.

An estimated 40,000 out-of-town visitors are in town for March Madness.

The tax dollars from food and beverage and hotel stays will go to Charlotte’s tourism fund which helps land and produce events.

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