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N.C. governor says horse jumping event bigger than NBA All-Star Game

Related Topics: Show jumping

The 2018 World Equestrian Games will take place near Charlotte, N.C., and that's a really big deal. Massive, in fact, according to the state's top official.

“This is bigger, with all due respect, than the All-Star Game, a football game, a basketball game — combined, times two. This economic impact is huge,” North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Friday ( via the Charlotte Observer) .

The 13-day equestrian competition was awarded to Mill Spring, N.C., about 80 miles west of what was supposed to be the host city for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game.

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The league pulled the game from the home of the Hornets because of North Carolina's controversial HB2 legislation, widely viewed as anti-LGBT.