CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – Two major basketball and golf sporting tournaments are set to garner international attention and rake in millions for the local Charlotte economy.
From March 11-15, Charlotte is set to welcome tens of thousands of visitors for the ACC men’s basketball tournament at the Spectrum Center.
About two months later, from May 15-18, golf fans from around the world will pour into the city as Charlotte hosts one of the four golf Majors, the PGA Championship, at Quail Hollow Club.
Both of these events are anticipated to bring in tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the local economy and as Charlotte continues to grow, city leaders see these events as identity-builders.
“This is a place that brings people together with sports,” explained Quail Hollow Club President Johnny Harris.
Charlotte City Councilman Ed Driggs agrees, “We want to be known as a big major sports center in America.”
The major events are coming in droves this spring as more than 60,000 fans will cheer on their favorite basketball teams at the Spectrum Center in March for the ACC Tournament and about 40,000 guests a day will walk the course at Quail Hollow in May for the PGA Championship.
Driggs said “It’s a big driver of economic growth for the city.”
In 2024, the City of Charlotte reports Charlotte’s sports scene contributing more than $179 million dollars to the city’s economy.
“Having these events here, both for the hospitality industry,” said Driggs. “As well as for the city as a whole. All those visitors and those events drive other transactions. [Visitors] buy things and go to restaurants. So on several levels, it’s of advantage to the city.”
Greator Charlotte Hopsitiality and Tourism Alliance President and CEO Mohammed Jenatian explained “ACC is huge for the hospitality business, is huge for our hotel revenues for food. The average revenues, obviously all these people that are coming over here are gonna have to go out there and eat; they go to the mall. They provide all kind of benefits not only to the hospitality business, but many other businesses.”
The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority explained the benefits to local businesses cannot be stressed enough.
CRVA CEO Steve Bagwell explained, “By hosting strategic events like this, we create opportunities that extend far beyond the game itself, supporting jobs, businesses, and the overall economic vitality of our community.”
The PGA Championship alone created about 1000 temporary jobs ahead of the 2025 tournament and is expected to book 95 percent of Charlotte’s hotel rooms the week of the tournament.
However, it is not just about what the events bring to the city, it is the fact that tournament directors and companies feel the warm welcome that makes them want to come on back.
“Just the excitement and not only the the club here has for hosting championships and PGA Championship, but the city itself,” said PGA of America CEO Derek Sprague.
Jenatian agreed saying the repeat business is part of the hosting business.
“They want to come back to Charlotte for visit even when we don’t have a basketball games,” Jenatian said. “That’s obviously long term value for our community, right? But more importantly…with the caliber of people that this event and when you look at all these alumnis that are coming over here, they’re all decision makers. With major corporations and normally an ACC will get us because of the exposure to those decision makers for major companies. It will get us a lot more conventions and corporate conferences for the city of Charlotte.”
Driggs said both events as well as others ahead this year are helping the city share what it is all about.
“We want to build an identity for the city as a place for all this fun stuff happening,” Driggs explained. “We want to be recognized as a place for sporting events, amateur sporting the big teams, all of that, and that contributes to the perception of the city.”
It is a process that takes time but continues to make the city a place people want to call home.
Harris explained “They tune in to Charlotte and all of a sudden, it’s not Charlotte, North Carolina, it’s [just] ‘Charlotte.’”
As of Friday afternoon, tickets for the ACC Tournament and the PGA Championship were still available.
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