Legends Event Center named 2024 champion of economic impact for City of Bryan

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) - Legends Event Center in Bryan was named the 2024 champion of economic impact for hosting Adidas spring basketball tournaments.

The Adidas tournament generated more than $5 million for the Bryan-College Station area, and with nearly 10,000 people attending, it highlights Bryan as a destination for world-class sporting events.

The general manager for Legends Event Center, Jamie Cox, told KBTX hosting Adidas was one of the best decisions he could have made- not just for him but for the City of Bryan, too.

“We knew it was going to be a positive turnout, but not to the level it has been,” Cox said. “We had over 35, 40 states represented for these events to bring in thousands of athletes and all of their family members.”

Players, coaches, referees, friends, and families stayed in hotels, went out to eat, and shopped around. All things that boost the community’s economy.

“That economic impact turns into impact for our local residents because it’s tax dollars they don’t have to spend,” Lina Adams with Destination Bryan explained.

This tournament was back for its second year, and according to Destination Bryan, it brought in even more profit than the first year.

“[It is] Money circulating in our economy that didn’t have to be spent by a local resident, so we’re able to reap those rewards as the residents,” shared Adams.

Cox added, “They loved all the easy access to all of the restaurants and hotels. So, everything here just checks a lot of boxes these teams are looking for when they’re traveling.”

Destination Bryan says it expects future tournaments at the Legends Event Center to bring in even more revenue to the area.