Lincoln Businesses Gear Up for Two Weeks of State Basketball Tournament Visitors

Fremont’s Taylor McCabe dribbles the basketball, as Lincoln Southwest’s Aniya Seymore (2) and Kennadi Williams defend her during the Class A Girls State Basketball Championship Friday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena. LSW’s McKenna Rathbun (24) and Fremont’s Macy Bryant (background) are moving down court. (File photo by Jeff Motz/KFOR Sports)

LINCOLN–(KFOR Feb. 28)–It’s State Tourney time in Lincoln! Starting Wednesday, all the way through Saturday night, the NSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament will take place at Pinnacle Bank Arena and the Devaney Sports Center.

Lincoln Chamber of Commerce president Jason Ball told KFOR hotels and restaurants in the downtown area will see a bump in revenue from basketball fans that are in town.

“It really spreads a lot of economic benefit throughout the community,” Ball said. “It just highlights the importance of our tourism and visitor economy as a major economic sector here in Lincoln.”

The hotel and hospitality sector will see an increase in revenue with out-of-town fans staying for up to four days each tournament weekend. Retailers and restaurants also get a boost from fans wanting to go shopping and dining.

“That is why Lincoln made the investments that we did, now over a decade ago, because we knew there was a brighter future for our downtown and drawing people here,” Ball added.

The girls basketball tournament is this weekend, while the boys tournament starts March 6 and runs through March 9. Hear play-by-play coverage of select Lincoln area teams on KFOR.