Fans flock to Havre for 9C tourney

Excitement is filling the Havre High School gymnasium this week, but the action is not only at the basketball courts.

Players, coaches, family and friends of Class 9C basketball teams are in Havre this week for the District 9C Basketball Tournament, and Havre's economy is once again seeing the impact.

For decades, Havre has hosted the tournament that advances teams to the Northern C Divisional, and local businesses see the teams and fans between games.

Jill Gideon, manager of the El Toro Inn and Motel in Havre, said her hostelry sees quite a few people staying to watch the tournament.

"They come from as far away as Helena," she said, adding, "we enjoy it."

Judy Greenwood, who owns and operates Havre's Taco John's with her husband, Dave, also said the business bumps up during the tournament.

"We always look forward to waiting on them, and it's fun to see them," she said.

Many are repeat customers, Greenwood said, and some have been coming to Taco John's during the tournament for 10 years or more.

Havre Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Debbie Vandeberg said the tournament - and other events - definitely benefits the economy.

"When events and activities are hosted in Havre, like the District 9-C Basketball Tournament ..., it means good things for our community," she said. "Since the teams are pretty much local, area motels don't get the extra room night bump, but restaurants, gas stations and retail businesses typically benefit from the tournament's fans at a time when things can be quiet."

She added that some Havre businesses run special promotions during the 9C event.

Members of the Chamber's Athletic Committee volunteer to help promote and work the 9C tourney, along with other events. Vandeberg said Havre this weekend also will see people coming to the squirts - age 9 to 10 - hockey tournament at the Havre Ice Dome south of town, and Havre is hosting the squirts state hockey tournament next weekend.

The impact from the 9C tournament varies - representatives of some Havre restaurants and hotels say they have little or no increase in business - although the numbers of people coming to Havre for the games is likely to pick up again next school year.

While Rocky Boy High School was part of the tournament, Havre saw more traffic along with the extra teams. When Rocky Boy moved up to Class B in 2009-10, the number of teams dropped to six, along with the number of fans dropping significantly.

With revision of the districts, that again should pick up next year. Fort Benton High School and Chester/J-I High School will move to 9C, bringing the number of teams - and the groups of fans - back to eight.

Gail Wilson, group coordinator for TownHouse Inn of Havre, said that hotel also sees some business from the tournament, although in recent years it hasn't been booked solid. It is a beneficial bump in business, she said.

The increased business goes farther than to restaurants and hotels, both downtown and at the malls.

Greenwood said that both Havre Taco John's locations, on 5th Avenue and at the Holiday Village Mall, see increased business. She said the restaurants increase the staffing to handle the increased business.

The mall often sees teams, and fans, coming up to eat, shop and rest in between games, Greenwood said.

She added that the teams often plan out where they will go to eat, and what they will be doing in between games, as do some of the fans.

"We're always appreciative of them," Greenwood said. "It's helpful to the community."