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How big were the total solar eclipse and Women's Final Four events for Cleveland?

The events attracted tens of thousands of people to Cleveland over a five-day span.

CLEVELAND — One day after capping off a long weekend full of events in Cleveland, organizers report tens of thousands of visitors flooded the city over the last five days.

Beginning with the NCAA Women’s Final Four games and events Thursday through Sunday, the Huntington Convention Center said preliminary numbers show more than 20,000 fans joined the fan events during Tourney Town. More than 2,000 coaches also showed up for a convention of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

“What a weekend for Cleveland! We were on the national stage, even the international stage. We couldn’t have asked for anything better,” said Emily Lauer, vice president of communications at the non-profit marketing group Destination Cleveland.

Lauer said we would have a better idea of the number of visitors after a report on hotel occupancy is released in May.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame reported thousands of visitors walked through their doors through the weekend, making Sunday one of its biggest days for attendance. The Rock Hall also hosted a Solarfest on Monday and saw an uptick in visitors through Tuesday.

The total solar eclipse attracted thousands from across the country, including North Carolina, and as far away as Arizona and California. They filled parks and yards across northeast Ohio and places like the the Great Lakes Science Center

The Science Center told 3News approximately 16,700 people attended Monday’s Total Eclipse Fest. That number puts total attendance over the three-day festival at roughly 36,800 visitors.

“Just simply awesome,” Kaz Kashihara said after the sun peaked back out from behind the moon. “This is a totally different experience. Like all of a sudden evening came.”

Kashihara and his wife Heather traveled to Cleveland from Arizona to experience totality. They also participate in NASA’s civilian science program and plan to share their pictures with NASA.

“I never experienced anything like this before and I mean it was just incredible to see the solar flares coming out that was a big surprise to me,” Heather Kashihara said.

“Clevelanders, when we collaborate and we plan ahead and we listen and we set our egos aside, we can do anything and we can exceed expectations and I think that’s what we did,” Lauer said.

Lauer said we won’t know the full economic impact of those visitors until an economic report is released in the summer. Lauer said success isn’t only about the dollars, but changing how people see Cleveland. Tt’s the story all these visitors tell when they go back home and their desire to come back for another visit.

“That’s exactly what big events do for us is they help us change perceptions and inspire return visitation,” Lauer said. “That then is just the multiplier effect for tourism.”

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