Basketball tourney expected to bring $3.65M to area

The 20th Annual National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championship starts today and will run through March 19 in Springfield.

The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates that out-of-town participants and spectators will spend about $3.65 million in Springfield throughout the week, according to a CVB news release.

Approximately 10,000 people are expected to be in the area for the tournament. More than 7,000 room nights were booked in hotels through the CVB's reservation program, while other rooms were booked independently.

National Christian HomeSchool Basketball officials are expecting 345 teams from more than 30 states, with 3,200 players in 10 age divisions, to participate in the tournament.

"Springfield is a great central location for teams to travel," Tim Flatt, NCHC executive director, said in a news release. "We anticipate that the 2011 national tournament will set a record for the largest home school sports tournament."

This week marks the third consecutive year the tournament has been held in Springfield.

In October, NCHC signed on to continue the tournament in Springfield in 2012, 2013 and 2014, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Free admission will be upheld throughout the tournament. Additional games will be held in Republic and Ozark.

The championship game will be held Saturday at Hammons Student Center at Missouri State University.

Updated brackets will be available at the NCHC Web site.
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