ST. LOUIS – From packed hotels to busy restaurants, St. Louis is cashing in as thousands of basketball fans flood downtown for Arch Madness. 

At the Enterprise Center—just about 40 minutes ago—the last game of the night kicked off, but fans from all over the world spent thousands to be here this weekend.

“(I spent) $2,000 USD for a flight, including accommodation. Probably $100 a day for food,” said Kenny Fang, an attendee visiting from the United Kingdom. 

Tomoki, another visitor coming from Hong Kong, said the expenses were about $3,000. 

The four-day tournament is expected to generate millions for businesses and restaurants like Maggie O’Brien’s, which is preparing for one of its busiest weekends of the year.

“I mean every year March is a month that is a great month because of St. Patrick’s Day,” said Aaron Snively, the general manager of Maggie O’Brien’s. “So you bring this tournament into the mix. It’s great for us. Everybody here in downtown west, we all benefit from everything.

Arch Madness has brought in over $200 million for St. Louis over the years, and several fans have said how they had spent a minimum of $1,000 for this weekend. 

With other major sporting events like the NCAA Frozen Four and ACHA National Championships coming up, St. Louis is set to see a $40 million boost from sports tourism this spring.

“It’s easily seven, eight (or) $9 million in direct spending. And then you tack on the residual benefits of the national television exposure and having visitors come to Saint Louis and experience what the city has to offer,” said Tim Ryan, director of Communications for St. Louis Sports Commission.

With Arch Madness now locked in a contract at the Enterprise Center through at least 2028, this annual boost to the city’s economy is not going anywhere. 

So whether it’s hotel stays, bar tabs or team merchandise, fans are spending big.