Governors Challenge to be a slam dunk for local Businesses
SALISBURY, Md. – The Governors Challenge is coming back to the Eastern Shore, and organizers say it’s going to be a slam dunk for local businesses.
It’s the 41st year for the annual Governor’s Challenge. Event director James Simmons says this is where both local teams, and those from all up an down the East Coast, will be competing for the top spot.
“A high level division one coach came in to see a team from Arizona, but saw J.M. Bennett on the same day and same court,” Simmons said.
It’s opportunities like those that are drawing 2,000 athletes, and 124 high school basketball teams from across the country to Salisbury. Simmons says some athletes are even coming from as far as Canada.
“Thousands of people are coming to town, participating in the event,” Simmons said. “We usually see about fifteen thousand attendees over the course of the event.”
Local restaurants are already seeing an influx of people. Partner of Burnish Brewery Virgil Shockley says his establishment is reaping the rewards from the increased traffic.
“It gives Ocean City and quite frankly any hotel within fifty miles, there rooms are going to be full,” Shockley said. “It just adds a little extra income and this time of the year, it comes in nice for Christmas.”
Burnish Brewery can comfortably hold around 200 people, and Shockley says this event will easily fill every seat and barstool in the place during the off season. “So, it’s kind of a slack time, normally. So, this should help the economy pick up on the shore,” he said.
Simmons says that this event has grown and gained so much national recognition that organizers prepare for it year round. And, they get right back to work for next year’s competition, after it’s over.
“Growing up on the Shore, this event has come to the national stage, but it is still helping the local athletes tremendously,” Simmons said. “It’s become a part of a lot of our lives to put this on every year. Its a passion for us and its something we love to do.”
