'I Really Liked Tulsa': Visitors At BOK Center For Big 12 Wrestling Championship Compliment The Venue

The Big 12 Wrestling Championship wrapped up on Sunday at the BOK Center after visitors from all over the country came to Tulsa to watch the athletes compete.

This is the eighth year the Tulsa Sports Commission hosted the event and organizers say preparation took months.

Thomas Dineen is a wrestler for South Dakota State University, and he says this weekend's big crowds made the tournament a great experience for him, and something he will look forward to for the next few years.

Organizers say an average of 4,000 fans came to the BOK Center every day of the tournament.

"Obviously when you get a lot of wrestling fans in one area things can get pretty loud and it's just a fun environment to be in whether you're at the hotel with all the wrestlers or in the BOK center, I mean it's pretty cool," says Dineen.

This is Dineen's second time in Tulsa, and he's looking forward to competing here in the next few years.

"It's a nice arena a nice venue, plenty of fans can fit in there, I mean they held the national tournament last year, I think that obviously it's pretty central for the big 12 and I'm all for it," Dineen said.

The Big 12 wrestling championship will be held in Tulsa for the next four years. Joel Koester is the director of sales for the Tulsa Sports Commission and says one reason that agreement was made is because of everything the city has to offer.

"We've got world-class attractions, world-class amenities, like the Gathering Place, the zoo, the aquarium, I mean, we really have the total package when it comes to a destination not to mention all the restaurants our downtown is just booming," said Koester.

Koester also says Tulsa has become the youth wrestling capital of the United States and having the Big 12 Championship in Green Country inspires the younger generation to wrestle, especially young girls.

A Wyoming fan came with a group of 50 people and says coming to Tulsa for the event has turned into a tradition.

Summer Ashworth, from Wyoming, said

"I've really liked Tulsa. The weather is beautiful today, great restaurants, we're staying right next to the arena so it's been really nice, everyone's friendly here we've had a good time."

Organizers say this tournament gives the Tulsa economy a $2 million boost.