Sporting Events Swarm Downtown Tulsa

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK --  Downtown Tulsa has become sports central. It's almost like the Oklahoma Olympics, with cycling, baseball, and basketball taking over town.

There was the Saint Francis Tulsa Tough in the Blue Dome District, the Drillers playing at OneOK Field and the Tulsa Shock on the hardwood over at the BOK.

As the hot sun sets, the downtown weekend events are just warming up.

"Lot of good choices if you are a Tulsan," said Mike Dodson, Executive Director of Tulsa Sports Commission.

Cycling enthusiasts from 35 states and five countries are pedaling their way to be Tulsa Tough. The three day festival kicked off Friday night in the Blue Dome district. Participants spin their way on a three quarter of a mile loop.

"We call it the NASCAR of bike racing," said Malcolm McCollam, Event Director of St. Francis Tulsa Tough. "Because they go around and around and around for an hour hour and a half during the race."

6/4/2010 Related Story: 'Tulsa Tough' Rides Through Downtown Tulsa

Just north of the course, the Drillers are running for home around that baseball diamond. And to the west, the WNBA. The Tulsa Shock are tearing up the hardwood.

"It's all spread out enough but close enough at the same time so it works out really well," Dodson said. "Everything is so close. That's what's nice about here. The ballpark is two blocks away. BOK Center is three to four blocks away."

Tulsa Police say they expect a big crowd for all of this weekend's downtown events.

"This is not going to be an unruly crown by any means so we are not expecting any problems," Sergeant Dave Davis, Tulsa Police.

But with such a variety, there is something for everyone.

"You know what, if you were in New York City, you'd have all of these sporting events going on," McCollam said. "We're like the New York City of the southwest! We're the Big Apple of the southwest."