Many Teams And
Their Supporters
Were In Greeneville
For Four Nights
By DOUGLAS WATSON
Managing Editor
The GreenBank Ladies Classic basketball tournament gave a timely boost in business to Greeneville restaurants and motels, numerous spotchecks by The Greeneville Sun indicate.
The tournament brought 11 out-of-county teams as well as the five in-county teams, and their many supporters, to Greeneville on Sunday, Dec. 27, when the teams began arriving.
Even the losing teams stayed at least through Wednesday, Dec. 29, while the remaining teams and their supporters were here through Thursday, Dec. 31, when the championship was won by Mt. Juliet High School from Middle Tennessee.
Tammy Kinser, tourism director for the Greene County Partnership, this week calculated that "direct spending" by the visiting teams, which was mainly at motels and restaurants, totaled $135,000.
Kinser said that, even though the visiting teams were offered discounts on motel room rates, she estimated that they spent $75 per person during every day they were in Greeneville for motels, restaurants, and other items, including gasoline.
She estimated that the "indirect spending" generated through "the multiplier effect" of money first spent here then being respent by others several times, generated $370,000 in total direct and "indirect spending."
Kinser said the typical out-of-county team playing in the tournament brought as many as 25 people here, including parents and other supporters.
She said that participation by the four Greene County high schools also resulted in more spending in Greeneville, as most families coming into this town from outlying parts of the county to watch a daughter play basketball also went to a local restaurant before or after the game.
METCALFE COMMENTS
Attendance on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, though fluctuating, was estimated by Ron Metcalfe, general chairman of the Ladies Classic, to have reached at least 2,000 spectators per day for the series of games on each of those three days.
A smaller number of fans attended the fewer games on Thursday, the tournament's final day, he said.
Metcalfe also said the Ladies Classic had been a success for businesses here, as well as athletically, although the tournament had not occurred over a weekend, as was the case last year.
He said the tournament also was valuable in introducing those from other places to Greeneville, and showing them what this community has to offer.
He mentioned some of those who came with the team from Cosby, Va., who told him they were much impressed by Greeneville.
RESTAURATEURS PLEASED
Several restaurants contacted by the Sun said they noticed an influx last week of diners who were players or fans of the participating teams.
Josh Hurley, manager of Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, said the restaurant welcomed such a group every night of the tournament.
"One night," he recalled, one of the groups "included 30 to 35 people."
Jeni Webb, manager of Fatz Cafe, said that during the tournament the restaurant hosted groups of 20 people or more from the Ladies Classic at least six or seven times.
Scott Squibb, manager of Zaxby's restaurant, spoke similarly of the diners that came there from the tournament. He said "quite a few groups of 12 to 15 team members" dined at Zaxby's.
Local motels also benefited from the Ladies Classic, with nine of the 11 out-of-county teams staying here for several nights.
Elaine Cutshall, manager of the Hampton Inn, said the Inn had four of the girls' teams staying there, and that they caused "zero problems."
She added, "We'd like to see more of this," referring to overnight tourism here resulting from events in Greeneville.
The Comfort Inn hosted three of the teams, an employee reported, while The General Morgan Inn and Jameson Inn each reported hosting one team.
Chris Buckles, a co-owner of the new 20-pump Greeneville Express Mart gas station, said "We had a lot of business here from people attending the tournament."
