What to Expect As Crowds Come in for the Carrier Classic

The game is a landmark, a focal point for the action is the Hotel del Coronado, but what impact will have on the community?

The easiest to recognize: Look for traffic problems throughout the afternoon Friday, as thousands of people converge on North Island Naval Air Station, where security will be tight for the 4 p.m. game.

The city is not planning street closures, said spokeswoman Janine Zuniga.
Lots around City Hall and off state Route 75 near the Coronado Shores, however, will be shut down to accommodate buses stationed there for the event.

The Morale Foundation, the event organizers, and ESPN, which is airing the game, have set up at the Del, but Todd Little, executive director of the Coronado Tourism Improvement District, said he does not expect the Carrier Classic to have a big impact on the local economy.

The men's college basketball game, hosted on the USS Carl Vinson, is drawing major attention both for its novelty and the participation of the top-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels. Little says the shots of Coronado aired during the nationally televised game should be a boon for tourism in general.

But much of the action will be focused on the base, leaving few opportunities for participants to drop in on local merchants and restaurants.

From a street-level, impact-on-business standpoint, Little is looking more toward the America's Cup World Series competition, which kicks off across San Diego Bay Saturday.

Riding the ferry between Coronado and San Diego will offer easy and economical opportunities for viewing the action, and the park facing the bay from 1st Street will be near a turnaround in the races, Little said.

For someone involved with tourism the Carrier Classic – to be attended by President Barack Obama – and the America's Cup series will nicely cap a fall that has seen visits to the community by Britain's Prince Harry and Speaker of the House John Boehner. 

“It's nice,” he said. “It keeps Coronado in the spotlight.”