GREENSBORO, N.C. — The ACC Tournament had a huge economic impact on the City of Greensboro, but it's not just dollars that flowed in from the sporting event, eager fans from all over came to cheer on their teams.
This year, the men’s tournament brought in $13.8 million and the women’s tournament brought in $7.8 million. These numbers aren’t just good for the city but for nearby businesses as well.
What You Need To Know
The ACC Tournament brings in the same amount of money each time it’s in Greensboro
The ACC Tournament will be in Washington D.C. next year
It’s been three years since the tournament was in Greensboro
Fans are back this year after games being canceled due to COVID-19 in 2020 or being limited or away like in other years
Stamey’s Barbecue, which is located right next to the Greensboro Coliseum, got in on the action as well. General Manager Desmond Jackson, who’s been working there for 27 years, said he expected their line to be out the door. He said after Wednesday, the restaurant would be packed with fans getting something to eat in between games.
Craver Stamey helps run the restaurant alongside with his dad and is happy that the tournament is back because he too was expecting good crowds from it.
“It's always a good bunch, and we're happy to have the men's tournament back in Greensboro this year,” Stamey said.
Craver said what makes them unique, and the reason why people keep coming back for more food, is the process of how they cook their pork.
“We still cook our pork barbecue over hardwood coals with wood only ... so it's a really cool process,” he said.
Henri Fourrier the president of the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau said the numbers from last year are roughly the same.
Influx of fans
In 2020, the games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, the tournament had limited fan attendance. Last year, the tournament was played at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. But this year, the games were back in Greensboro, and so were the fans.
Fans from all over came to Greensboro to watch their favorite college basketball teams compete in the tournament. Bo Miller says the tournament is about being back with old friends. Miller hasn’t been at the arena in two years.
“Last time, I came I was excited to see Duke but then COVID hit. Then I got home and heard the news, the ACC was over, and it was sort of the needle in the balloon,” he says.
Last week he cheered on Duke and Wake Forest, he said anybody but Carolina.
Miller’s been a Duke fan since childhood, thanks to his dad. He also had a friend from high school go on to play for the Blue Devils, which made him an even bigger fan.