Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Karen Hibbard spoke with KMAN Friday about the cancellation of events in Manhattan in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
She says that some of the 14 conventions and events held during the month of March that the bureau directly works with have already been held, but many have been cancelled.
Hibbard says the cancellation of events in Manhattan affects several areas of life such as shopping, restaurants and tourism and that getting back to normal will be important for the economy’s recovery.
Among the events that were cancelled was the Kansas State High School Athletics Association 2A State Basketball Tournament, which typically takes place at Bramlage Coliseum.
Hibbard says this cancellation is financially significant.
This is just one of many athletic events across the country that have either been cancelled or postponed.
Several professional-sports leagues have suspended their seasons while most collegiate-basketball postseason tournaments, including the NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments, have been cancelled.
