BALTIMORE, MD (August 6, 2026) - Visit Baltimore and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, are thrilled to announce the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament generated record-setting economic impact, totaling $33.6 million and marking the highest in the tournament’s five-year run in Baltimore.
RECORD ATTENDANCE
More than 33,000 fans came to CFG Bank Arena throughout the tournament’s 22-game run from February 24 to March 1. More than 8,200 fans attended the championship game alone, a 36% increase from the year prior.
“The momentum continues to build here in Baltimore. This community is committed to developing a culture and atmosphere of inclusive excellence, all centered around our students and basketball,” Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker said. “The city is an active partner in the success of this tournament, success that exposes more people to our outstanding institutions and more visitors to this great city. We are grateful for the growth we’ve accomplished and can’t wait to return to Baltimore next year and for many years to come.”
A POWERFUL ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR BALTIMORE
With $33.6 million in total economic impact, this year’s CIAA Tournament supported 1,630 full and part-time positions, resulting in $6.7 million in direct income to employees in our community.
Participants and spectators spent $17.4 million at local businesses throughout Baltimore. That included $4.8 million on food and beverage, $4.4 million on lodging, $3.0 million in retail spending, $2.8 million on entertainment and attractions, and $1.8 million on transportation and local rideshares.
“Baltimore is proud to be the home of the CIAA tournament, and proud of the growth it's seen since coming to our city,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “Every year, this tournament is an opportunity for Baltimoreans and visitors to celebrate HBCUs, and for our young people to see themselves represented by world-class student athletes. It fills our hotels, brings new business to our restaurants, and invites tens of thousands of fans to experience CFG Bank Arena. We look forward to welcoming CIAA back to Charm City through 2029 and beyond.”
The tournament also delivered significant visitation from beyond Maryland, underscoring CIAA’s broad regional draw and impact on Baltimore’s hospitality industry. Seventy-four percent of those who traveled for the CIAA Tournament came from out of state, with nearly 10,000 visitors staying overnight.
“Hosting this tournament is rewarding on so many levels, and every year, we see the positive impact rise and ripple throughout the city,” Visit Baltimore President & CEO Kireem Swinton said. “At the end of the day, we’re creating opportunities for our residents, whether through employment, dollars spent at their businesses or tax revenue that supports city services. From Convention Center staff at FanFest to ushers in CFG Bank Arena to the bellhops at our hotels, waitstaff at our local restaurants and more, our hospitality teams work hard because they know this matters for Baltimore.”
INVESTING IN COMMUNITY
In addition to the economic impact supporting area hotels, restaurants and attractions, the City of Baltimore, State of Maryland, Visit Baltimore and the Local Host Committee made a $1.7 million donation to the CIAA General Scholarship Fund that supports the conference’s 12 member institutions, made up of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and its students. The Baltimore Sports Tourism Development Council also made the conscious effort to engage 109 minority and women-owned businesses throughout the planning process, resulting in a direct economic benefit of $1.43 million.
“It is a great honor to host the CIAA and these talented young basketball players in our state," said Governor Wes Moore. “Each year, the tournament floods Baltimore’s economy with millions of dollars, boosting tourism, supporting local businesses, and energizing our communities. But the CIAA is not just an economic engine in the state; it is a display of Maryland’s excellence in education, community, and athletics, all while highlighting our commitment to equity and opportunity for all Marylanders.”
"The CIAA Basketball Tournament continues to be a powerful example of how collegiate athletics can drive meaningful economic and community impact,” said Dr. Paulette Dillard, President of Shaw University and CIAA Board Chair. “The positive economic results generated throughout Championship Week in Baltimore reflect the strength of our partnership with the city, our member institutions, and the many businesses and organizations that help make this event a success. Beyond the competition on the court, the tournament creates opportunities for local businesses, supports jobs, attracts visitors from across the country, and celebrates the rich culture and legacy of our conference. The Board of Directors are proud of the value the CIAA continues to bring to Baltimore, and we look forward to building this momentum for years to come."
“The CIAA Tournament leaves its mark not just economically, but also through connections with the public school system, church and faith-based communities and those in need across Baltimore,” Commissioner McWilliams Parker added. “We want to show as much care for the city as it shows for us.”
Visit Baltimore partnered with Tourism Economics, an Oxford economics company and leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis, to collect and assess economic impact data following this year’s CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament.
The tournament will return to Baltimore from February 21-27, 2027. For more information on next year’s event and hotel reservations, visit theciaa.com.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff | abutzlaff@theciaa.com
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
Ari Hamilton
717-991-8836
Ahamilton@baltimore.org
Visit Baltimore
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University.
For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
About Visit Baltimore
Visit Baltimore is the official sales and marketing arm for the City of Baltimore. The 501(c)(6) non-profit organization generates economic benefits for stakeholders through the attraction of convention, group and leisure visitors. In 2025, 28.7 million people visited Baltimore for overnight and day trips, generating a total of $4.3 billion to Baltimore’s economy. For more information, please visit Baltimore.org.