Monday, March 18, 2013

It's the 75th year for Hutchinson to host the National Junior College Championship tournament. Hutchinson is expecting a greater economic boost due to changes in the week long tournament.

It started a day earlier than usual -- Monday -- instead of Tuesday. That's because of a format change. The number of teams expands from 16-to-24. It's also a single elimination tournament rather than the old double elimination.

These changes plus two Kansas jucos in the tournament expected to make this even more profitable to Hutchinson. Convention and Visitors bureau director LeAnn Cox says there will be a more than $2 million boost to the local economy. She says the hotels are at 85-percent occupancy with all the visitors.

Two Kansas teams are in the Hutch tournament. Those are Coffeyville Community College and the Hutchinson Community College makes its first appearance in the tourney since 1997.