SHELBY, N.C. -- Shelby could become the permanent home of a national sports tournament that would bring millions of dollars to the area each year.

This week, representatives from the American Legion World Series will visit the town, which is one of three finalists for the tournament.

A research group said about $4 million was pumped into Shelby and the surrounding region when the American Legion World Series was held there two years ago.

Welcome signs are displayed across town in anticipation of the Friday arrival of a delegation.

Becoming the permanent home to the tournament would mean more business for restaurants and hotels, and Shelby residents said that is a much-needed change.

“We saw a decline with a lot of businesses cutting their travel budget,” Tiffany Mullis, the general manager of the Holiday Inn Express, said. “It would be a wonderful thing to be able to depend on that business every year.”

Nat Ramsey, the vice president of Bridges Barbecue, thinks business will heat up if eight teams and their families come to Shelby every year.

“The two main motels in Shelby are right across the street and just down the street [from us],” Ramsey said.

Though the tournament was only in Shelby for a few weeks, Ramsey said it had a major impact on his business.

“Anything that comes into Cleveland County and helps Cleveland County grow, I think that is a wonderful thing,” Ramsey said.