CIAA in Balitmore (Baltimore, Bowie, Mayo: real estate, crime, hotels)

[Woodlands]

CIAA wrapped up, not to be confused with the CAA which also used to be in Baltimore. I believe (hope) it had a significant impact on Balitmore economically in terms of hotels and restaurants. I saw an article that the 12 host hotels posted an 80% occupancy.. I did meet quite a few people from North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina where many CIAA schools are located. I believe Bowie State is the only CIAA school in Maryland.

Unfortunately most of the people I spoke with were nervous about coming to Baltimore, but said that they have/were enjoying the City. This is the second of a three year contract though year 1 was a wash because it was virtual... Hopefully next year will be bigger and it gets renewed for another three years. CIAA headquarters is in Charlotte and that is where the event has been for a decade or so before coming to Baltimore. There it posted $25 million to the citys economy and a total economic impact of nearly $44 million. Baltimore could use the money and the positive press so we shall see what happens

[MrRational]

googled it but ... what is a CIAA?

[NJ2MDdude]

Originally Posted by MrRational

googled it but ... what is a CIAA?

https://theciaa.com/sports/2022/1/6/...ament_FAQ.aspx

[Borntoolate85]

Travel + Leisure/Priceline recently ranked Baltimore as one of the most affordable cities to visit in terms of lodging, with an average nightly rate at just over $100/night, which is a song given that $300 is the norm in many of the more popular cities. In today's economic climate, I feel that tourists shouldn't be scared about the crime rate, since the majority of those homicides/shootings occur by crooks on others who already have a criminal record. In most tourist-focused areas, it remains acceptably safe for the average tourists, and there is an abundance of lodging choices in multiple neighborhoods. It can also double as a cheaper alternative for a visit that includes DC, with MARC/Amtrak service to Union Station.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/tri...-united-states
(big surprise: San Jose is #20 in terms of one of the cheapest cities to lodge, despite being in the most expensive metro for real estate)

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Borntoolate85

Travel + Leisure/Priceline recently ranked Baltimore as one of the most affordable cities to visit in terms of lodging, with an average nightly rate at just over $100/night, which is a song given that $300 is the norm in many of the more popular cities. In today's economic climate, I feel that tourists shouldn't be scared about the crime rate, since the majority of those homicides/shootings occur by crooks on others who already have a criminal record. In most tourist-focused areas, it remains acceptably safe for the average tourists, and there is an abundance of lodging choices in multiple neighborhoods. It can also double as a cheaper alternative for a visit that includes DC, with MARC/Amtrak service to Union Station.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/tri...-united-states
(big surprise: San Jose is #20 in terms of one of the cheapest cities to lodge, despite being in the most expensive metro for real estate)

Yeah if it gets renewed for another three years or so. I can see people taking full advantage of this aspect of being in town.. Granted there is plenty to do in Baltimore.... I know many people that when they do visit do go down to DC because of the convenience.

I didnt go to the games or the events but I was in the downtown area. People were out walking about between the Convention Center, Hilton, Royal Farms and Inner Harbor representing their schools. Later in the evening I couldnt help but notice that the BPD seemed to make a dragnet around the downtown area especially around the hotels.. I suspect it was to protect the tourists and or deter any would be criminals to avoid the area. There was still a shooting on the block that was more business as usual Baltimore than anything to do with CIAA but it caused that area to be blocked off which impacted traffic downtown and sent it scattering on to some of the other streets.. I also think people from out of town riding around to trying to find restaurants and nightlife contributed to some of the gridlock that occurred during the evening.. but that was a welcome sight as opposed to empty streets.

[Woodlands]

Sooo...The CIAA returned to Baltimore and appears to have been a success.. Mayor Scott touts it as a major accomplishment, which it is.. though it was brought to the City by his predecessor. I always cringe when I watch the news hoping nothing bad will happen to scare events like this away. Before this event there was the CAA tournament which has since moved to DC. I believe the CIAA is in Baltimore until 2025. It moved here from Charlotte right after the pandemic and this is the second year that it has been in person vs the virtual first year. A few people that I met from NC were pleasantly surprised by what Baltimore had to offer but indicated that many folks from NC (where most of the CIAA schools are located) remain skeptical of the city and prefer Charlotte. So, I guess Baltimore has some building to do...