By Catherine Pugh
Special to the AFRO
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the oldest African American athletic conference founded in 1912, will return to Baltimore for the fifth year at the CFG Bank Arena in downtown Baltimore from Feb. 25 to March 1. A total of 13 historically Black colleges and universities will compete in the tournament, including one team from Maryland, Bowie State University.
The men’s and women’s basketball tournament is expected to attract nearly 150,000 attendees to the city for basketball games and various activities, comprising step shows, educational programs, and performances by a number of artists, including Lloyd, Jeezy, DJ Quick Silva and other bands.
The CIAA is regarded as a celebration of Black culture.
On June 8, 2023, the CIAA and Visit Baltimore announced the extension of the tournament in Baltimore through 2026. Both Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott expressed their approval of this decision.
“This tournament is our opportunity to showcase what our state has to offer, bringing people to Maryland and driving economic growth,” said Gov. Moore.
Mayor Scott believes the event is crucial to Baltimore economically and socially.
“Our entire community has truly embraced this tournament, energizing our local businesses, bringing incredible energy to the CFG Bank Arena and showing our city’s love of basketball,” said Scott.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of women’s basketball in the tournament, and 2026 will be the 80th year of the Association’s men’s basketball tournament. 2026 will be the last guaranteed year for Baltimore to host the CIAA.
Baltimore has submitted a letter of interest to continue hosting the tournament and has until mid-April to submit a formal bid for the CIAA 2027-2029. The only known competitor is Charlotte, N.C., which hosted the tournament for 15 years beginning in 2006. Tourism executives in Charlotte credit their successful hosting of the tournament with helping them secure the 2012 Democratic Convention and the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
“The CIAA is one of the best tourism investments for any city or state,” said Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker. “We manage 14 championships and focus on the student-athlete, fan, community and partner experience. We understand the value and return on investment for a community when our interests are aligned. The Charm City, referring to Baltimore, is special! Success happens because of collaboration, strong community leadership, and the support of our 13 member institutions.”
Making the CIAA a successful series of events in Baltimore required leadership and partnerships. The community effort continues to be led by Zachary McDaniels, co-chair of the local host committee and a well-known strategist, philanthropist, and business person in Baltimore.
“When Al Hutchinson, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore, came to see me over seven years ago, I thought that the CIAA would economically impact the city, attract more positive attention, improve opportunities for African-American small businesses, and boost the hospitality industry. We wanted to build a mutually beneficial partnership with the CIAA. I’m pleased to report that we have achieved that and more thanks to the support from the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland,” said McDaniels. “We worked very hard to keep the CIAA tournament here and are thankful for Al Hutchinson’s leadership. The best is yet to come. I am proud of what we have accomplished and will accomplish.”
McDaniels echoed the sentiment of many involved in the success of the CIAA in Baltimore. “The city has embraced the CIAA,” he added.
“Al Hutchinson is one of the best leaders I have worked with in the hospitality industry. He understands Baltimore and the CIAA,” said CIAA Commissioner McWilliams-Parker. “His extensive experience and dedication have brought all the elements of our work together. Our partnership has grown, and we consider ourselves family, taking care of our communities together.
“We are excited to bring the CIAA Championship Basketball Tournament back to Baltimore for our fifth year. With the continued support from Charm City, we anticipate this year’s tournament will again deliver significant benefits to the community,” continued McWilliams-Parker.
In 2024, data provided by Visit Baltimore, the city’s official sales and marketing arm, indicated that the economic impact on Baltimore in 2024 was $32.5 million, while providing 1,315 part-time and full-time jobs and generating $3.1 million in state and local taxes. The Baltimore Sports Tourism Development Council reportedly engaged 118 minority businesses, resulting in $1,437,839 in economic impact for those businesses.
Additionally, another $20 million in off-site spending last year was generated. The local host committee, the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, and Visit Baltimore also made a $1.5 million donation to the CIAA General Scholarship Fund.
“We are ready for CIAA 2025,” said McDaniels. “Let’s go!”
CORRECTION: This article has been corrected to reflect that Zachary McDaniels is a strategist.