The NCAA鈥檚 First Four is back in Dayton next week after the games were canceled in 2020 and held in in 2021. But the return is not just a boom for Dayton鈥檚 status in the minds of college basketball fans. It鈥檚 an economic driver for the region.
University of Dayton officials say they expect more than 100,000 fans over the next couple weeks and an estimated $5 million impact on the Dayton area. The is also planning a four mile run, a STEM challenge for K-8 students, and a family festival in the city鈥檚 Oregon District this weekend. Organizers predict spending in the region will go far beyond game tickets.
鈥淎ll of our businesses, all those hotels, all of those restaurants, all of those shops are going to see a bump in their business, which everybody needs right now,鈥� said Sarah Spees, director of the Big Hoopla events. 鈥淲e are very supportive of all of the businesses, not just in [Dayton] but in our region. The people will come and they might stay in Mason, Ohio. They might stay closer to Columbus. But they're going to be here for three to four days, and they're going to enjoy our community.鈥�
This year the UD Arena is also hosting 24 high school basketball games over the next two weeks. The first games of the start March 10.
Copyright 2022 WYSO. To see more, visit .