Commissioners Agree To Back Bid For 2010 C-USA Hoops Tourney
EL PASO, TX — County Commissioners vote unanimously to back the concerted effort to bring the Conference USA men’s basketball tournament to El Paso in 2010.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau, along with the El Paso Sports Commission presented a plea for support, saying the tournament – which is scheduled for March 10-13, 2010 – could generate $1.1 million dollars in ticket sales alone. However, the cost of hosting the tournament is estimated at $1.2 million dollars.
The county agreed to financially back the bid, but that unspecified amount of funds would be coming out of its 2009-2010 budget from the Motel-Hotel tax fund. That fund generates money when visitors stay in area lodging.
Before the vote, Commissioner Miguel Teran questioned if this is a good investment of tax dollars, saying the county invested in the Texas vs. the Nation college football tournament, yet there was no word of whether the county gained, lost, or broke even on its investment. “I don’t want to write blank checks,” the commissioner said, then later added he did support the bid.
CVB General Manager Bill Blaziek answered Teran’s concerns, saying UTEP has examined the ticket revenue from past tournaments carefully before considering bidding for the basketball tournament. “
The revenue from the tournament ticket sales should cover the investment,” Blaziek told the court. Sports Commissioner Brian Kennedy added it’s been shown that 2,000 fans travel to the hosting city for the 5-day tournament.
Blaziek told the court UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull, Assistant Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom, and Head Coach Tony Barbee are currently in Florida attending a meeting where they will express UTEP’s interest in bidding for the 2010 tourney.
Blaziek told ABC-7 the committee overseeing the bidding process could come down with a decision later this summer.
The CVB and the Sports Commission will ask City Council for their support during its morning meeting tomorrow.
