BALTIMORE — A college basketball tournament is coming to Baltimore and it could be a big boost to the economy.
Officials in Charlotte, the current host city, said the tournament not only has the largest economic impact on their city but it paved the way for other major events as well. Charlotte city leaders said the CIAA pumps $50-million into their economy every year. That could be an economic boom for Baltimore and a benefit to downtown hotels, restaurants and other businesses.
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is the oldest African American sports conference in the country and Prince George’s County’s Bowie State University is a member of the conference.
Baltimore could be a major attraction in the future once the CIAA m move to the city.
One Charlotte councilman Tariq Bokhari said, “the tournament opened doors to other high-profile events such as the democratic national convention and the republican national convention.” The councilman says the city needs to look at what led them to lose the tournament to Baltimore.
Baltimore reportedly offered the CIAA $2-million in scholarships compared to Charlotte promising $1.2-million with the possibility of increasing it to $1.7-million.
Officials in Charlotte said the tournament not only has the largest economic impact on their city, but it paved the way for other major events as well.
CIAA officials are expected to make an official announcement about the move to Baltimore later this morning.
