Local businesses prepare for 9C tournament

The District 9C Basketball Tournament begins Wednesday and local businesses are gearing up for the high amount of people who travel to Havre for the four-day basketball tournament.

Players, coaches, family and friends of the 9C basketball teams will be in Havre this week for the tournament, and Havre's economy is expected to see a rise in numbers.

People travel from 9C towns including Chester to Turner, Harlem and Hays and Lodge Pole and south from Box Elder, Big Sandy and Fort Benton to compete in and watch this competition.

Michael Sangrey, manager of Taco Time in Havre, said that every year he sees an upswing in business.

“It’s little by little, but it gets pretty crazy,” he said. “There is a big difference between a regular day and when the games are here.”

Sangrey added that his staff is prepared for this year.

“We try to keep a couple people on-call,” he said.

Scott Schroeder, general manager of TownHouse Inn in Havre, said he saw about a 15 percent increase in overnight stays last year compared to the previous year during the time the tournament took place.

Schroeder believes his business is prepared for the rise in guests that are expected.

“We’re hired up pretty well, so it probably won’t be that big of an increase this year in longer shifts,” he added. “We should be able to stay pretty steady.”

Lee Richter, assistant manager at the Havre Kmart, said he saw about a 10 percent increase in customers last year compared to the previous year.

Richter added that his staff will be doing more shifts while the tournament is in town.

“(For example,) instead of having one person do a four-hour shift, we’ll probably have two of them do two four-hour shifts, only staggered,” he said.

Todd Boucher, manager of the Holiday Convenience Store and Gas Station in Havre, said he saw about a 20 percent increase in customers last year compared to the previous year.

“I think it’s good for businesses in town; it brings a lot of people in,” he said. “I think it’s good for the community all the way around.”