All four of London's basketball clubs are coming together to host four different provincial championships, which will bring hundreds of teams to the city.
The four championships will be spread over three different weekends in April of 2016.
Overall, the Ontario Provincial Cup runs the span of eight weeks in several different locations. It attracts upwards of 1,100 teams, 16,000 athletes and 2,500 volunteers.
London will welcome the under 10 novice girls and boys, the under 11 atom girls and under 14 bantam boys.
"There's a lot of excitement, the Friday night everybody arrives in town and it's a big thing. The first night they get signed in and there's a little bit of nervousness," says Peter Malcolmson with CYO. "These kids all get to have family and friends here watch them play in their hometown."
It is expected most families will stay overnight, shop and eat in the city.
"These tournaments are huge economic drivers. Y es, the big national and international events are great as well but we can't discount these tournaments that bring in hundreds of families over numerous days," says Cheryl Finn with Tourism London. "There was a sport tourism economic assessment done a couple of years ago in Ottawa during the same type of event and it was a $1.3-million generator."
The London Ramblers, London CYO, Gold Medal, and the London 86’ers basketball clubs along with the London Board of Basketball Officials will run the event.
