DAYTON, Ohio—According to Destination Dayton, the destination marketing organization for Dayton and Montgomery County, the 2025 NCAA First Four Tournament games generated $6,631,875 in direct spending economic impact. “This figure, based on an economic impact calculator from Destinations International and Tourism Economics, doesn’t even begin to capture the incredible value of having Dayton in the national media spotlight for one of the country’s most-watched sporting events with millions of viewers,” says Jacquelyn Y. Powell, president and CEO of Destination Dayton.
Indeed, the tournament attracts thousands of fans, media, team members, and officials to the Dayton region each year and attracts national and international attention.
“Thanks to the outstanding work of Scott DeBolt, senior associate athletics director and the executive director of the University of Dayton Arena, and his team, the enthusiastic round-ball fans of Dayton who consistently purchase tickets each year, and the collective work of the Big Hoopla Local Organizing Committee volunteers, Dayton has become synonymous with the First Four and will continue to host the event through 2028,” Powell says.
To this point, the University of Dayton Arena has hosted more NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament games than any other venue in the U.S. By 2028, the number of tournament games held at the Arena will surpass 150.
Destination Dayton says the First Four Tournament’s economic impact significantly boosts the Greater Dayton community. The games typically sell out, local hotels host teams and traveling fans, restaurants and bars are filled with pre-game and actual game celebrations, and retail outlets from shops to gas stations benefit from the influx of visitors and locals reveling in the kick-off to March Madness. The entire community also benefits from the positive media coverage and exposure to a nation-wide audience.
