By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It's hard to know precisely from year to year how much money the March basketball tournaments in Hutchinson bring in, but it is significant.
"It's different teams and different kids from different communities," said LeAnn Cox with Visit Hutch. "When you're looking at attendance and how much that economic impact is, it varies so much. We'll have a team from Lakin, Kansas that travels all the way from western Kansas to Hutchinson and that's a long drive for their family to come, so maybe they don't bring a lot of fans, but we also might get a team from 30 minutes from here and they will just fill the Sports Arena."
The reason why communities like to host these events is because of what happens after the game.
"Once the game is over, hopefully they'll get out into the community and stop and fill their gas tank up, stop and get a hamburger or a pizza on the way out of town, maybe take in an attraction or something, if they have time," Cox said.
Postseason basketball is a tradition in Hutchinson and it's because of community support.
"It's been 72 years for the NJCAA," Cox said. "They've had a lot of leadership changes over those 72 years. Our organization has always been entrenched in keeping those lines of communication and that level of trust that we've established. It's been the same thing with KSHSAA over the years. They've had a transition a couple of times. It's that same level of reciprocation between the two entities. Hutchinson Community College, they are the host of 3A. They're the ones that are in the trenches there on a daily and hourly basis. The American Legion is the host for NJCAA basketball."
Another weekend of basketball will be added in the years going forward, as the The National Division II Christian Homeschool Association is bringing their 2021, 2022 and 2023 National Basketball Tournament weekends to Hutchinson.