Basketball tourney expected to net $3.6M for area economy

This week, the Springfield economy is estimated to grow by more than $3.6 million as the city plays host to the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championships.

The annual tournament, which runs through March 13, has brought in roughly 8,000 people to watch 300 youth basketball teams compete, according to a news release from the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau.

CVB President and CEO Tracy Kimberlin estimated 7,500 city hotel room nights are generated by the event, which Springfield has hosted since 2009.

“From the standpoint of the number of hotel rooms occupied, the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Tournament is our largest annual event,” Kimberlin said in the release.

Springfield is locked in as host through 2017, CVB officials say.

For hotel and restaurants operators, the tournament usually kicks the travel season into gear.

“It’s a nice start to our summer season,” said Kristie Dains, training coordinator at Andy’s Frozen Custard, where lines are expected to be a bit longer this week.

The Ramada Plaza Hotel & Oasis Convention Center is sold out through March 14, mostly with tournament families, said General Manager Missy Handyside.

“It’s definitely our largest room-producing group each year,” Handyside said in the release, noting 70 percent of the hotel’s 173 rooms are occupied by families in the city for the championships.

On Monday, Elliott Lodging owner Gordon Elliott was out shopping for towels to meet demands at his 13 area properties. He said all of his two-bed rooms were sold out this week.

“All of a sudden, you better make sure you have enough of everything – lots of towels, lots of food and lots of people there to take care of their needs,” Elliott said in the release. “It’s a warm-up for the season.”