Now that the NJCAA Division II Men’s National Basketball Tournament is over, planning is already underway for when it returns to Danville Area Community College next year. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. says he enjoyed volunteering at the tournament last week. And he notes it had a huge positive impact on the city….
Audio Player{AUDIO: “It gives us something fun to do. It brings a lot of economic opportunity here to the community because folks are staying at hotels, they’re going to restaurants, they’re buying things. And I think it’s just a moment of pride more than anything else for the city of Danville, and for DACC because we’re able to put on an outstanding show. And just yesterday someone stopped me and said ‘we feel so welcome here. This is so well done. Thank-you.’ So people can tell how much we care.”}
The mayor noted some of the things the city does to help prepare for the tournament…
Audio Player{“One of the big things we do is a big sweep of the area surrounding the college. So, in addition to regular code enforcement, doing some extra code enforcement to make sure the neighborhood around the college looks especially good. We also partner with Keep Vermilion County Beautiful to do a big litter clean-up the Saturday before the tournament starts. And then I think, also just making sure roads are clear and looking good for our guests.”}
Danville will be hosting the tournament for at least four more years….
Audio Player{AUDIO: “That’s awesome! So, we’ve got four more years, minimally. And I would love to see us become the permanent home. And may hope is that between now and then that we can convince the folks from the NJCAA that we deserve to be the permanent home” (for the tournament).}
Mayor Williams says he normally sits at the door selling tickets for the games. He adds that’s just one small way he can help. The Mayor was among an army of more than 350 area residents who volunteered to help with the games.
(Mayor Williams is on right in photo. He was selling tickets at the NJCAA Tournament at Danville Area Community College.)
