Tulsa prepares for NCAA fans

TULSA - We are one month away from March Madness happening in Tulsa and the city is preparing businesses for thousands of paying customers.

The last time Tulsa played host to an NCAA tournament game was in 1985.

Leaders don't want that much time to pass by again.

"We're estimating 70,000 to 100,000 fans coming in from out of town," TU Assistant Athletic Director Nick Salis said.

Salis and Tulsa Sports Commission Executive Director Ray Hoyt will head-up the operations for the tournament when it's here.

Over the past few weeks, they've been meeting with business owners in all the hotspots.

"Just getting in as front of as many people as possible, spreading the word, information and just awareness of what's going on," said Salis.

Hoyt said, "There's going to be breaks in between games and people are going to be pouring out of the BOK Center, and looking for a place to dine and enjoy some activity."

Kyle Knapp, a manager for Hideaway Pizza on Cherry Street, was in attendance at a recent meeting.

"We had heard about it and were curious, what we can be expecting," he said.

Knapp has been looking over the game plan ever since.

"We're gearing up, ready to go. We are definitely staffing up," said Knapp.

He's expecting plenty of fans to want some locally made pizza.

Those same fans are expected to bring in about $13 million to the economy.

Tulsa will host the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the championship games; those are set for March 18th and 20th.

This may not be the last time the city plays host to such an event. Tulsa has a bid in for the 2014 and 2015 games.