Raleigh, N.C. – The 56th Annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament broke attendance records for the second straight year, shattering the previous mark by more than 30 percent. In its second year in Raleigh's Entertainment and Sports Arena, the CIAA Tournament attracted more than 75,000 fans, up from a little more than 55,000 last year. In 1999, the tournament's last year in Winston-Salem, approximately 42,000 attended.
The economic impact of the tournament this year is estimated at $8.4 million for the area, up almost 8 percent from 2000, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. The tournament, televised by UPN, averaged a 2.4 television household rating and 4.2 shares.
"The tournament continues to grow and Raleigh has capacity for continued growth," said Dave Heinl, President and CEO of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The tournament, the fans and everything surrounding the event have been so beneficial to the area."