Paradise Jam Extends USVI Partnership
The Paradise Jam college basketball tournament has extended its sponsorship with the US Virgin Islands Department of Tourism for four years. The agreement ensures the event will continue to be hosted in St. Thomas through 2029. The partnership highlights the intersection of sports, tourism, and local economic development.
- The event, now entering its 27th year, is organized by Basketball Travelers, Inc., a company that specializes in managing collegiate basketball tours and tournaments. - Each November, the tournament draws thousands of visitors—including teams, alumni, and fans—to St. Thomas, significantly boosting hotel occupancy and spending in sectors like retail, transportation, and restaurants during a key tourism period. - The tournament's games are held at the 3,500-seat Sports and Fitness Center on the campus of the University of the Virgin Islands. - A previous two-year sponsorship agreement in 2015 included a $250,000 base payment from the Department of Tourism, which was contingent on the tournament generating at least 2,500 room nights or a $1.5 million minimum spend in the territory. - That same 2015 deal also included a performance incentive of up to $125,000 for generating over 1,000 additional room nights and was estimated to provide $500,000 in advertising equivalency for the U.S. Virgin Islands through media exposure. - The partnership is part of a broader sports tourism strategy for the USVI, which also includes supporting events like the St. Thomas International Regatta and forming marketing partnerships with teams such as the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. - National broadcasts of the Paradise Jam games provide significant media exposure, reinforcing the U.S. Virgin Islands' brand as a destination for major sporting events and group travel.
