Hot Springs Hosts Sun Belt Tournament for Fifth and Final Time
By: KARK
Updated: March 10, 2013
The Summit arena in Hot Springs has seen the last of the Sun Belt Basketball Tournament.
This weekend marked the fifth and final season for the tourney in Hot Springs.
The teams and their fans are taking their talent and team spirit to New Orleans next year, and a lot of tourism dollars are going with them.
It is disappointing news for local businesses that rely on the economic impact of the tournament in town.
"It's a real good impact on tourism brings in a lot of people from surrounding states as well as local crowd," says Nick Hoop of Embassy Suites.
Hotels and restaurants say there's nothing else like this conference and the dollars it brings in.
"It's been a good run with sun belt the 5 years we've had it here so we're sad to see them go but really proud of what they did for the city of Hot Springs."
Fans who travel to support their team book up hotels all weekend long.
"As soon as they leave they already ask to book next year."
But fans say they go where the team goes and they're excited for a great conference and good competition next season in New Orleans.
"Hot Springs is real nice, It's more relaxing it's a real calm place so we're going to miss it here in Hot Springs," says George Fant, a Western Kentucky fan.
So far, there has been no word yet from the city on a possible replacement for the Sun Belt conference.
