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High-profile college sports events in Charlotte generate over $42 million in direct spending, officials say

Over 70,000 hotel rooms were booked by fans attending events at Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Sports Foundation said.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Sports Foundation announced on Thursday that its events brought nearly $80 million to the Queen City in 2023. 

Among the events hosted by the Charlotte Sports Foundation were the Duke's Mayo Classic, Duke's Mayo Bowl, Ally Tipoff and ACC Football Championship. Those events brought some of the biggest stars in college sports, including Iowa's Caitlin Clark and North Carolina's Drake Maye to compete in the Queen City. 

“The success of 2023 is a direct result of wonderful support from all of our partners,” Danny Morrison, executive director of the Charlotte Sports Foundation, said. “The harmony that exists in Charlotte creates the opportunities to host these high-profile events, especially at some of our large-scale venues, that not only drive economic impact but also positively affect the quality of life of people living in the area.”

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Credit: AP
Drake Maye stiff-arms a defender during the 2023 Duke's Mayo Classic at Bank of America Stadium in Uptown Charlotte.

In addition to $79.7 million in economic impact, events hosted by the Charlotte Sports Foundation generated $42.9 million in direct spending and $2.5 million in taxes for the city. Over 216,000 fans booked 70,500 hotel rooms for events at Bank of America Stadium and Spectrum Center, not to mention the tens of thousands of fans who attended related events in Uptown Charlotte. Over 16.7 million people watched those events on TV, according to the Charlotte Sports Foundation. 

 The Charlotte Sports Foundation is gearing up for another big year in 2024. All five of its major events return, plus the Meck Mile presented by Albemarle. Tennessee and N.C. State kick things off with the Duke's Mayo Classic on Sept. 7. 

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