Tulsa Gearing Up For Next Month's NCAA Basketball Tournament

NewsOn6.com

TULSA, Oklahoma –– For the first time since 1985, Tulsa will host a portion of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in March.

The BOK Center will be one of eight sites nationwide to host the 2011 NCAA Second and Third Rounds of the annual basketball tournament.

The BOK Center will serve as the host site, March 17-20. Four games will be played on Thursday, March 18th, with two games scheduled for Sunday, March 20th.

Officials say open practice sessions on Thursday, March 17th will allow fans to visit the BOK enter free of charge to see the teams work out.

City of Tulsa officials say no matter what teams are assigned to Tulsa, it will have a huge economic impact on the city.

"Having the second and third rounds of the NCAA tournament in Tulsa is a tremendous opportunity for our community," Mayor Dewey Bartlett said. "With an estimated $13 million economic impact, community support is such an important factor when a tournament of this magnitude comes to town. Many businesses are already planning for special events during the tournament and we expect high traffic volumes at our many arts, entertainment and shopping districts."

Tickets for second and third round games are available for the one-time price of $237. Fans can purchase tickets at www.ncaa.com/mbbtickets.

The last time Tulsa hosted NCAA tournament games, they were played at ORU's Mabee Center.