The following is a Counterpoint:
BY KEVIN GREEN
The excitement started a little after noon on March 2 and continued until after 5 on March 18, and once again, Greensboro glowed in the national spotlight.
We, as a community, should be very proud of what Matt Brown and his wonderful staff at the Greensboro Coliseum did for our city's image during this incredible run. The tens of thousands of visitors to our city were treated to a clean, safe, festive environment and left with a lasting impression of the true hospitality of our fine city.
The improvements to the coliseum we have made over the years have paid huge dividends in hosting these and other events. But we cannot lose sight of the need to keep our facility up to date, allowing us to compete for these exciting events. The Greensboro Coliseum is our "crown jewel" and a great economic boost to our area, as reflected in the $40 million to $45 million impact over the last three weeks. The television viewers across the nation saw Greensboro splashed across their screens for three straight weeks, and the impact of that message cannot be measured, but it sure does add to the national exposure.
Our tournament host committee, led by Dr. Harrison Turner, assembled a group of 700-plus volunteers to make sure that everyone who had a question, needed assistance or just wanted to see a friendly smile was greeted promptly and professionally. The volunteer group is what makes Greensboro proud to call itself "Tournament Town." Thank you to all who helped make the tournaments an unparalleled success.
The News & Record's coverage of the tournaments was first class and gave those visiting Greensboro an informative recap of the past day's events. The News & Record showed the ACC and NCAA the level of coverage they deserve when they are in town. Thanks to all the staff who worked so hard to make it happen.
Let's celebrate our accomplishments, be proud of our complex on Lee Street and work together to see that the coliseum continues to shine for us for many years to come.
The writer is chairman of the Greensboro Coliseum War Memorial Commission.
