Charlotte is reportedly gearing up to submit a compelling bid to host the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament for the years 2027 through 2029. This initiative underscores the city’s commitment to celebrating Black culture and honoring the rich traditions of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).
The CIAA Tournament stands as a hallmark event, blending high-caliber Division II basketball with a week-long array of festivities, including concerts, parties, and cultural exhibitions. During its 15-year tenure in Charlotte from 2006 to 2020, the tournament not only energized the city’s atmosphere but also delivered substantial economic benefits. In 2019, for instance, the event attracted approximately 140,000 fans and generated an impressive $43.7 million in economic impact.
The tournament has called Baltimore home since 2022 after Baltimore outbid Charlotte in 2019 to become the tournament’s host city. That decision that resonated deeply with Charlotte’s HBCU alumni and community leaders. Reflecting on this, some believed that Charlotte may have underestimated the tournament’s significance and did not present sufficiently competitive incentives to retain it.
Council members Malcolm Graham, an alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University, and James Mitchell, a North Carolina Central University graduate, have been vocal about the tournament’s profound impact on the city. Graham reminisces about how the city turned “electric” during the CIAA events, likening it to a homecoming for HBCUs in the northeast. Mitchell emphasizes that many local businesses experienced a significant portion of their annual profits during the tournament week and highlights its role in inspiring young individuals to pursue higher education.
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