Beckley businesses look forward to big bucks from basketball tou - WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV News, Weather and Sports

BECKLEY (WVVA) -- Businesses are preparing to see an expected 10,000 additional people in the area for the Big Atlantic Classic basketball tournament.

"It's definitely going to be an economic boost for our business," says Doug Jones, owner of Beckley's Jonesin' for a Sandwich.  His business is just down the street from the tournament's location, the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

"Every time that we have events here, the larger events, we boost the economy a little bit because of gas [or] people go out to eat.  You know, a lot of people come from out of town to see whatever is happening here," says Andrea Akers, General Manager of the Convention Center.

"It's definitely a recipe for local success, not only for ourselves, but for other restaurants and businesses in the area," says Jones.

The tournament runs through Saturday at the Beckley Raleigh County Convention Center.  For more information, you can call them at (304)-252-7361.

For your latest sports coverage on the tournament this week, tune into WVVA Sports at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.