NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Nashville Sports Council is proud to announce the 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament set a new record for its economic impact on the city of Nashville. The latest edition of the event generated $26.6 million for Middle Tennessee, topping its previous high mark of $24.5 million from 2024.

In total, 244,831 fans attended the tournament at Bridgestone Arena from March 12-16, marking the second highest attendance figure in the event’s history. The SEC’s addition of Texas and Oklahoma this season expanded the tournament schedule to eight sessions and 15 total games. The tournament featured its highest Thursday evening attendance and second-best Friday evening attendance in the last decade.

“With 16 fanbases and five days of sellout crowds in Bridgestone Arena, the tournament is consistently one of Nashville’s most successful weeks of the year both economically and for national exposure,” said Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council.

Bridgestone Arena and Nashville have now hosted the tournament 13 times, totaling over $202 Million in direct economic impact for the city. The annual event is scheduled to remain in Nashville through 2035.

Per attendee surveys, 52.1% of fans came from out of town and stayed an average of 3.26 nights in the Nashville area. Out-of-town attendees occupied roughly 10,864 hotel room nights and spent on average $307 a day. Local residents also spent $220 a day on average according to survey data.

The 2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament broadcasts drew a cumulative seven million viewers nationally on ESPN across the week. Florida’s victory over Tennessee in the March 16 final was the most-watched SEC tournament title game on Nielson-rated networks since 2017.

2019-2025 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament

*2020 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament cancelled mid-event due to COVID-19 pandemic.

*2022 SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament hosted in Tampa, FL.

Since 2001, the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament has used the Nashville Sports Council’s nationally recognized Scorecard report to measure the impact and effectiveness of sporting events on the local economy. The Scorecard measures economic impact, media exposure and community involvement based on ratings and surveys from participants, spectators, volunteers and media that attend the event.

For more information on the Nashville Sports Council, visit NashvilleSports.com.

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Contact

Morgan Key, Brand & Digital Media Coordinator – Nashville Sports Council, (615) 743-3126 or mkey@nashvillesports.com

About the Nashville Sports Council

The Nashville Sports Council, Inc. is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area companies and individual sports enthusiasts. Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events. The Nashville Sports Council has hosted hundreds of major sporting events that have produced more than $1.4 billion in direct economic impact for the region. For more information call 615-743-3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com. Follow the Nashville Sports Council on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.