Averett basketball tournament creating big economic boost for Danville

DANVILLE (WSLS 10) - Danville is receiving a big economic boost this weekend.

It's thanks to the USA South Men's Basketball Tournament being held at Averett University.

Eight teams from across the south are in town.

This is the first time in two years the university has hosted the tournament.

Tammy Hobbs, the regional sales director for the company that owns the Courtyard Marriott hotel on Riverside Drive, said this year may be even better than when Averett hosted the tournament two years ago.

"To kind of look at revenue from year to year, we're probably still at 70 to 80 percent occupancy and I think this year we're at 90 percent or a 100. I know we're sold out here at the Courtyard and we're sold out at the Holiday Inn tonight," Hobbs explained.

Averett Athletic Director Meg Stevens says when Averett hosts an event like this the university does everything it can to maximize the economic boost the event provides.

"We have what we call Team Averett partners. Local busineses that have partnered with us so, therefore, when we host something like this we send [the teams] to the businesses that have supported Averett athletics," Stevens said.

"Our hotels are booke right now. We have numerous restaurants that are part of Team Averett," said Stevens.

The championship game tips off at 3 p.m. Saturday at Averett's North Campus.