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Event set to draw cash to Baltimore

May 17, 2007 12:00 AM (477 days ago) by Dave Carey, The Examiner
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Johns Hopkins and UMBC are two local teams who have a chance to play at M&T Bank Stadium for the championship May 26 to 28. –
(John Strohsacker / For The Examiner)
Johns Hopkins and UMBC are two local teams who have a chance to play at M&T Bank Stadium for the championship May 26 to 28. –

BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Baltimore has scored with NCAA lacrosse ticket sales.

Hosting the NCAA Division I, II and III men’s lacrosse championships May 26 though 28, M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore Ravens and other local business groups have been working together to sell out the event. As of Tuesday, more than 42,000 all-session passes had been sold, more than halfway to the ultimate goal of a 70,017-seat sellout.

While that number seems lofty, it is a driving force to keep up record sales.

“All-session number is past what our attendance was last time [in 2004],” said Baker Koppelman, senior director of ticket sales and operations for the Baltimore Ravens. “People are starting to understand that buying in advance is a good thing to do and we have seen a steady increase.”

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In 2004, the last time the NCAA championships were held in the city, the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association estimated that the event raised about $15 million in economic impact — while drawing 43,898 spectators. For this year’s title matches, BACVA is roughly estimating a similar figure, with such variables as attendance, weather and who plays in the games.

“As these teams start to solidify themselves we will see if that effects the number,” Koppelman said of UMBC and Johns Hopkins, both of which still have a chance to play at M&T Bank Stadium in late May.

However, businesses and local groups are doing their best to take the guesswork out of that.

By selling more than 42,000 all-session passes, the Division I title game is almost assured of surpassing last year’s total attendance of nearly 50,000, a record for the contest. With more than a full week before single-game tickets go on sale, officials are hoping to break records and give the NCAA reason to bring the championships back to Charm City in 2009.

“We have not only the championship games, but also have Laxfest, on the West shore of the Inner Harbor, fireworks Friday night, and concerts at Pier Six all weekend,” said Nancy Hinds, vice president of public affairs for BACVA. “There should be a great more to do than just lacrosse.”

The 2008 championships are committed to Foxboro, Mass.

dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com

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10:42 AM MST on Tue., Aug. 5, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader said:
The 2000 census recorded 8.5% of the Tenderloin population as youth (under 18 years of age). Where did the over 500 additional youth come from?

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1:57 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Yes, if we can finally get a Tenderloin supermarket and get rid of some of the corner liquor stores that would be more of an accomplishment for the residents. Having a museum helps those who would make money off of it. The residents need quality food and hope for a brighter future. If the property owners are looking for a boost in their value of property they should work with the community and not hide behind limited partnerships and incompetent property managers.

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1:40 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader for the laughs said:
Here is another story about the Tenderloin were paid employees are contacted by the media to discuss the exact same issues they are making a living on. Again, another news article that disempowers residents into mere statistics. So, who exactly going to make some money related to this article?

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1:27 PM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader said:
Many of the tenderloin's residents live there because they can AFFORD to. Immigrants can get a start there and its a place where people on fixed incomes can make something of a home. What I'm hearing here is a call for gentrification in search of increased rents. Where are the current residents going to move? Its not like San Francisco needs one more costly neighborhood to live in.

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11:35 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader said:
they should have an oral history of prostitution in the tenderloin museum. heh, i know that gal!

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8:43 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 4, 2008 re: "Area may make history, again"

Examiner Reader said:
""As it stands, the neighborhood has dozens of empty storefronts and one of the highest crime rates in The City — though only about 15 percent of that crime is perpetrated by people who live there, said Tenderloin Police Station Capt. Gary Jimenez. As of July, the Tenderloin had seen about 3,500 arrests. The area is one of five San Francisco neighborhoods where police have boosted manpower to curb violent crime."" Can anyone please confirm that Supervisor Daly is moving from his condo on Stevenson Street to Eddy so he will oversee the non-gentrification of his District 6. Remember the Supervisor does not want any trees planted on Eddy since that will beautify the area and bring in the white yuppies....yeah right typical Karl Rove technique..yeah its all the white yuppies fault. While your at it why not throw in the guppies and families with children.

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10:34 AM MST on Wed., Jul. 9, 2008 re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"

Sean from Baltimore said:
Remember the original variety, quirkiness and charm of the Pavilions? It's GONE. The interior layout has been hacked up and blocked off, restaurants keep closing, and the remaining high-quality specialty shops are leaving one by one. The upper floor of the Light Street Pavilion is a WASTELAND beyond the food court. General Growth Properties has done a HORRIBLE job.

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11:15 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008 re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"

Examiner Reader said:
rouse, then owner, said this about horrible place 10 years ago, hat in hand for city $. do your homework. some figures and perspective might make your business stories relevant to somebody.

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11:00 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008 re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"

Examiner Reader said:
journalism -- or press release, which some construe and present to the world as journalism on the cheap. it shows.

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12:57 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 25, 2008 re: "Harborplace vacancies open door for national chains"

Bill said:
um...Fire & Ice *is* a national chain. Ok, so fill the empty space with 'upscale national retailers'. What have you got? TowsonTown Center South. BFD.

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10:40 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 16, 2008 re: "Ocean City hopes for average numbers in tough economic season for tourism"

Rocko said:
I was in OC this past weekend and it was VERY quiet down there. Much fewer people than I am used to seeing this time of year. I have been going to OC at least8 times per year over the past 20 years, and it was much quieter than usual.

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10:05 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 19, 2007 re: "Study: City needs more tourist attractions"

mike johnson said:
As a native born Baltimorean, I have always had an inferiority complex next to Philly and Washington DC. There have been places that are must-sees for people coming into town, like the architecture around Mount Vernon, the restaurants of Little Italy and Inner Harbor East, the wineries in Carroll and Harford County (in season), and the world class gems of the Walters and BMA. Historically, Philadelphia shined in the colonial period and has been lovingly restored. Washington is the home of a thousand federally funded tourist attractions. Baltimore became a major city in that period of time after the powdered wig era and before Washington became capital of the world. Americans have lost track of how much of the US of today would not exist without the sailing ships, steam locomotives, warehouseman and factory workers that met here. Show me the last time one of the conventioneers was murdered in Baltimore. Baltimore is a city, not Disneyland, but I like it.

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