NCAA First Four Tournament Brings Big Business to Dayton

The 2025 NCAA First Four Tournament games in Dayton, Ohio, generated $6,631,875 in estimated direct spending economic impact, Destination Dayton has announced.

This year’s First Four games saw Mount St. Mary’s beat American University along with Xavier beating Texas, Alabama State beating Saint Francis and North Carolina beating San Diego State. The University of Dayton Arena has hosted more NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament games than any venue in the country. By 2028, the number of tournament games held at the arena will surpass 150.

“This figure, based on an economic impact calculator from Destinations International and Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company, doesn’t even begin to capture the incredible value of having Dayton in the national media spotlight for one of the country’s most-watched sporting events with millions of viewers,” said Jacquelyn Powell, president and chief executive officer of Destination Dayton.

The Big Hoopla First Four Local Organizing Committee is an all-volunteer group that works to engage the community, secure sponsorships and highlight Dayton as a destination. The Committee also hosts activities during the First Four, including the Big Hoopla 4 Miler and STEM Challenge. Since Big Hoopla’s inception, over 100,000 tickets have been provided to local military.

“Thanks to the outstanding work of Scott DeBolt — senior associate athletics director/executive director of the University of Dayton Arena — and his team, the enthusiastic round-ball fans of Dayton who consistently purchase tickets each year, and the collective work of the Big Hoopla Local Organizing Committee volunteers, Dayton has become synonymous with the First Four and will continue to host the event through 2028,” Powell said.