Clarksville-Montgomery County Welcomes Amateur Athletic Union’s Boys National Championships

Visitor Spending Expected to Total $2.5 Million

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Clarksville-Montgomery County welcomes nearly 3,000 guests of two divisions of the Amateur Athletic Union’s Boys 10-and-Under National Basketball Championships July 7-12 at five local gymnasiums and Austin Peay State University.

Since 1999, the city has hosted dozens of regional and national Amateur Athletic Union basketball events. This year, 53 teams from 16 states including Utah, New York, Texas, New Jersey, Michigan, Maryland, Louisiana, Indiana and most states bordering Tennessee, make their way to Clarksville for championship play.

Registration is held Friday, July 7 at the APSU Dunn Center, offering inflatables and local food trucks to players and their families. Opening ceremonies follow 7 p.m. at Austin Peay’s Fortera Stadium featuring a parade of athletes, skydivers, torch run and guest speaker APSU Athletic Director Ryan Ivey. Opening ceremonies are open to the public. Game play tips off on Saturday and culminates with championship bracket play on July 12.

For each tournament played in Clarksville-Montgomery County, millions of dollars are brought into the community through several different avenues. Tournament visitors, including players, coaches, family members and spectators spend funds on hotel accommodations, food, entertainment and shopping. Projected visitor spending of nearly $2.5 million during the event supports a wide range of local businesses, but also directly contributes to the city, county and state tax base, as well as the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.

Clarksville has won bids to serve as host city for two AAU national basketball tournaments and two sub-state tournaments through 2018. Total revenue for past and future tournaments is forecasted at upwards of $28 million. An upswing in county tax revenue is historically seen during the months that the basketball tournaments are in the community.

Volunteers are needed to help with registration, opening ceremonies, ticket taking at all venues among other duties. If interested, contact Theresa Harrington, executive director of Visit Clarksville at 931-647-2331 or by email at theresa@visitclarksvilletn.com.

Clarksville-Montgomery County promotes itself to AAU site selection committees on several main points including major interstate access, proximity to the Nashville Airport, multiple well-equipped venues within a short driving distance, committed community members and businesses, highlighted by dedicated media coverage. To qualify for the selection process, each city must present the elements that make their community competitive, as well as pay a bid fee. Bid fees for these tournaments were funded through a grant from the Aspire Clarksville Foundation, the privately funded community marketing and economic development initiative.

All games are open to the public and free of charge for Clarksville-Montgomery County residents and active duty Military with valid ID.  All others may purchase tickets at the door. Daily Passes are $15 for adults and $10 for ages 6-14. Weekly Passes are $45 for adults and $35 for ages 6-14. Children five and under are free. Game time each day begins at 9:30 a.m., with the last games ending at 6:15 p.m.

For more information, visit www.VisitClarksvilleTN.com/AAU.

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