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Salem expecting big economic impact for hosting NCAA DIII Softball Championships

$1.3 million expected to be spent in the City of Champions

SALEM, Va. โ€“ The City of Champions is back to hosting again after the coronavirus pandemic canceled most college sports last year.

Thursday kicked off the NCAA Division III womenโ€™s softball championship at the Moyer Sports Complex. Eight teams and families from as far away as Texas and Wisconsin are in town for the tournament.

Itโ€™s expected to have an economic impact of $1.3 million which city officials said is great news coming out of the shutdown.

โ€œWe look at the teams and where they go to eat, I know Mac and Bobโ€™s had two or three teams go by, Joeโ€™s Deli had food delivered today and two teams went yesterday, Holiday Inn Tanglewood is full because of this event,โ€ Salem tourism director Carey Harveycutter said.

COVID-19 restrictions were in place Friday but will be relaxed as the Governorโ€™s Executive Order expires. Salem hosted four championships this year, tied for the most theyโ€™ve ever hosted in a year.