The city of Baltimore and the CIAA are celebrating a record $33.6 million economicimpact from the 2026 basketball tournament, another sign of the value HBCUs continue to create for host cities.The figure marks the highest economic impact in the tournament’s five-year run in Baltimore. It represents an increase of nearly 23 percent over the $27.4 million reported following the 2025 tournament.More than 33,000 fans passed through CFG Bank Arena during the tournament’s 22-game run. The CIAA reported that more than 8,200 attended the championship game, a 36 percent increase from the previous year.Those numbers show that the event continues to grow in its adopted home. They also require an important distinction.The $33.6 million represents the estimated impact on the Baltimore economy. It is not revenue collected by the CIAA, nor is it money divided among the conference’s 12 HBCUs.
