Big Rivalry Brings Big Business to the QC

CHARLOTTE, NC — You can expect a big economic boom, and heavy traffic, as two major sporting events take place in Uptown Charlotte Thursday.  The Charlotte Knights play at noon, and the UNC – USC rivalry game kicks off at Bank of America Stadium at 6pm.

50,000: that’s how many fans are estimated to come to Charlotte for the big game.  And for the people we talked to, whether they are fans or local business owners, everyone is excited about the big game.

“Of course I got the Carolina shirt on!  I’m a big fan; I love it,” said Derrick Williams of Fayetteville.

Williams joins thousands of fans hitting the city and spending cash.

“I had pay hotel room two nights, food, gas, going out downtown.  Probably spent over $600 dollars I had to save up for it,” he said.

“We wanted to come a day early, mess around a little bit, see what was going on downtown, and just walk around, get our bearings be ready for the game tomorrow night,” said Tony Hendrick of Conway, SC.

And it’s fans from both sides that have the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce excited.

“You’re talking about thousands of fans traveling here from outside of the Charlotte region, bringing their dollars with them,” said Charlotte Chamber President and CEO Bob Morgan.  “They have to eat, many looking for a place to stay; money going to stay here in our economy.”

Another major college sporting event held here at Bank of America is the 2014 Belk Bowl.  That event brought in more than $8 million in direct spending and $16.7 million in terms of the economic impact to Charlotte.

Nearby American Burger Company in Uptown hopes to see the same success with this game.

“From an economic standpoint, our numbers are through the roof.  We see anywhere from 150 to 300 percent increase from our normal business numbers,” said American Burger Co. General Manager Jeffrey Kahlmorgan.

Numbers business owners hope will increase with this event.  You can expect added traffic all afternoon around Bank of America Stadium.  

By the way, the Gamecocks and Tar Heels announced Wednesday that they will play here again in 2019 and 2023.