The middle of July is the worst time of year for sports fans. Major League Baseball pennant races are yet to heat up. Football training camps are still weeks away. Fans are looking for something to scratch that competitive itch.
Enter The Basketball Tournament. The TBT is the perfect storm of competition, school pride, and nostalgia during a time of year when we want it the most. It also taps into something deeper, bridging the gap between fans’ cherished college sports memories and the present-day action on the court.
The tournament’s format, which allows alumni teams made up of former college players to compete for a $1 million prize, gives fans a rare opportunity to reconnect with their favorite players and relive the passion of past seasons.
“I think about John Flowers and I think about WVU beating Kentucky to go to the Final Four,” said Tim Brady, President and CEO of Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“If you are a Marshall fan, you think about all the highlights of Jon Elmore’s career. This is an opportunity to go back in time and see those guys play.”
Seeing those familiar faces on the floor instantly takes fans back to their favorite moments and reignites the passion of those moments. The anticipation of a possible semifinal matchup between Best Virginia and Herd That, the WVU and Marshall alumni teams, adds to the atmosphere.
WVU and Marshall no longer play each other in men’s basketball. Head-to-head competition between the two fan bases is rare. The TBT provides an opportunity for fans to participate in the rivalry for a few days.
Beyond the fandom, the TBT also has a significant impact on the city of Charleston as a whole. In 2022, all of the passion and nostalgia translated into an $8.6 million economic impact for the city.
The TBT offers a second act for beloved athletes and a fresh chapter for fans to enjoy. Ultimately, the TBT succeeds because it blends competitive basketball with the powerful pull of memory, reminding us why we fell in love with the game—and our teams—in the first place.
It’s more than a basketball game. In some ways, it is a time capsule where fans can relive the magic of their college days and reconnect with players who meant so much to them.
Best Virginia and Herd That represent pride, rivalry, history, and heart. It’s why the Charleston Coliseum will be full Friday night and why, for one weekend in July, it feels like March all over again.