Tulsa Tough Bringing Big Boost To Local Economy

Tulsa is expected to get a $1.5 million dollar boost thanks to Tulsa Tough. Most of those dollars will support our already booming downtown area.

There are almost 2,000 racers this year, and even if you aren't into cycling, you'll like what it's doing to the local economy.

The race weekend is in its tenth year, and just as it's grown, downtown Tulsa's growth is rolling forward alongside it.

6/12/2015 Related Story: Tough Tough Primer: Race Schedules, Street Closures

The energy at the race is electric and Tulsa Tough Director, Malcolm McCollam is just one of the 50,000 people who'll watch the races this weekend.

"Nowhere else in America are you going to find a crowd like this,” he said.

McCollam's not at all surprised that racers have come from nearly every state in the nation, as well as 13 countries.

"Ireland is here, Argentina is here, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, it's just amazing," he said.

Jim O'Conner with McNellie's Group and other downtown restaurant and retail owners are banking on it.

"It's just about having people come downtown and have a great experience downtown, and getting those people to come back down here when there isn't something pulling them down here," he said.

McNellie's Group owns what was Dilly Deli; the Blue Dome District restaurant is switching gears, and couldn't ask for a better weekend to debut Dilly Diner.

"We worked extra hard to get it done in time for Tulsa Tough because we knew it would be such a good venue to advertise the new Dilly Diner,” O'Conner said.

In its tenth year, Tulsa Tough is continuing to give Tulsa some tough love, and Tulsans keep loving it right back.

Races continue all weekend. For a full schedule, you can visit the Tulsa Tough website.