The Triangle region of North Carolina is set to reap a substantial economic benefit as it hosts the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this weekend, with visitors expected to spend up to $12 million. The event is not only a highlight for basketball fans but also a significant boon for local businesses.
Scott Dupree, Executive Director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, expressed his enthusiasm for the tournament, calling it a “blessing” to host the event at the Lenovo Center, which will serve as the venue for the first- and second-round games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.
The games are set to kick off on Friday, with early matchups featuring Baylor versus Mississippi State at 12:15 p.m. and Duke facing an undecided opponent at 2:50 p.m. The evening session will see Norfolk State take on Florida at 6:50 p.m. and UConn face Oklahoma at 9:25 p.m.
In addition to the men’s games, women’s NCAA basketball tournaments will also be held across the Triangle, with Duke, NC State, and UNC all hosting regional games. The excitement surrounding local teams is palpable, especially for NC State’s women’s team, as student Amanda Pulley shared: “There’s a lot of hype around our women’s basketball team.”
The games will draw large crowds to various venues, including Reynolds Coliseum at NC State, where the Wolfpack will host Vermont at 2 p.m. on Saturday. “I think it’s really good to support them,” said NC State student Jessica Pracht. Duke’s women’s team will compete against Lehigh at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Friday night at 8 p.m., while UNC will face Oregon State at Carmichael Arena at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Raleigh was one of several cities competing for the opportunity to host the NCAA Men’s Tournament Regional. According to Dupree, the city’s success in securing the event is a testament to its facilities and growing reputation in the sports world. “You’re doing really good if you can host them every three to five years,” Dupree noted. This marks the fifth time the Lenovo Center has hosted the tournament since 2004.
Local hospitality businesses are also preparing for a busy weekend. The Raleigh Visitor’s Bureau estimates that 10,000 hotel rooms will be booked in the city for the tournament. Leon Cox, General Manager of the Westin Hotel near Raleigh-Durham International Airport, noted that nearly all rooms are already reserved starting Wednesday, adding, “You’ll see a lot of fans, so it’ll be an exciting time for everybody.”
With the Lenovo Center scheduled to host another men’s regional tournament in 2028, the ongoing relationship between the Triangle and the NCAA is set to continue, further solidifying the region’s status as a prime destination for major sporting events.
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