C-USA tournament estimated $4.5 million impact

[Harry]

EL PASO, Texas -

UTEP officials are calling the March 2014 hosting of the C-USA basketball tournaments a boon for El Paso.

The tournaments, held in mid-March at the Don Haskins Center and Memorial Gym, generated about $1.1 million in ticket revenue, according to a news release.

UTEP was able to cover tournament expenses and the minimum guarantee to C-USA without requesting funding from the El Paso Sports Commission, County of El Paso, the City of El Paso and Destination El Paso.

"Destination El Paso is very pleased with the final outcome of the 2014 Conference USA Men's and Women's Basketball Championships," said Bryan Crowe, General Manager of Destination El Paso. "With an increase in number of teams [31 total], this made for a longer tournament and more hotel rooms being booked. A total of 3,200 hotel rooms were utilized by teams, cheerleaders, bands, cheer/dance squads, officials, media and fans in attendance which contributed an estimated $4.5 Mil to the local economy. Equally impressive, the event garnered national media attention valued at nearly $400,000."

Read more: http://www.kvia.com/news/cusa-tournament-in-march-made-11-million-in-ticket-revenue-estimated-45-million-impact/25863308

[greenminer]

I wonder how much revenue the WNIT generated locally.

[Harry]

If it did this well maybe we have it there again. Would love to see it in Denton eventually.

[Quoner]

Lol to anyone who takes these numbers seriously. Also, media attention valued at $400,000 is outdated, misleading and...based on the traditional measurements of this most have disregarded...low.

[MDH]

$1.1m in ticket sales, lol, right.

[GrandGreen]

If it did this well maybe we have it there again. Would love to see it in Denton eventually.

After the disaster the last time NT hosted the basketball tournament, I would have to see a major improvement in fan support before I want it back in Denton. NT men and women both lost their first games in front of basically nobody. Even the Benford crowds last year were better. If I remember correctly both games were day time and garnered no student support and very few others. RV took no blame claiming that it was ran by the Belt and not NT. I am not sure how having no fan support for the host team was not the AD's responsibility.

[UNTFan23]

After the disaster the last time NT hosted the basketball tournament, I would have to see a major improvement in fan support before I want it back in Denton. NT men and women both lost their first games in front of basically nobody. Even the Benford crowds last year were better. If I remember correctly both games were day time and garnered no student support and very few others. RV took no blame claiming that it was ran by the Belt and not NT. I am not sure how having no fan support for the host team was not the AD's responsibility.

Tournaments are always hosted by the conference, not the host school. The host school may provide additional man power to try to help run the tournament as smoothly as possible but they don't do any of the promotions or anything else like that.

[GrandGreen]

Tournaments are always hosted by the conference, not the host school. The host school may provide additional man power to try to help run the tournament as smoothly as possible but they don't do any of the promotions or anything else like that.

I guess I was not clear, I am aware of who sponcers the event, but I know that most host schools have a fan base that at least turns out equal to their regular season games.

NT did not have a hundred students that went to either game and anyone who believes that is a conference problem doesn't understand the situation. RV when he bid for the tournament obviously thought Jones would be quicker on rebuilding the team then he was. By the way there was not 50 NT fans ex the pep groups at any of the games in Laffeyette when NT won their first Belt tournament.

The pertinent point is it took NT a long time to build support at home and having a good following at the Hot Springs tournaments. It looks like NT is right back to the pitiful support they had in the late Trilli and first half of Jones, tenure.