Tulsa, OK – The Tulsa Sports Commission and the University of Tulsa today announced Tulsa's selection to host a 2011 NCAA First-Second Round Division I Men's Basketball tournament at the BOK Center.
The Tulsa Sports Commission and host partner, the University of Tulsa, submitted a bid in May and hosted a site visit in August. In a news release from the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, the current chair, Dan Guerrero, director of athletics at UCLA, estimated approximately 70 cities submitted bids.
"An NCAA First-Second Round tournament is a top-tier event and Tulsa's selection by the NCAA is a major win for us and reinforces the quality reputation that our community has achieved in recent years," said Mike Dodson, executive director, Tulsa Sports Commission. "The investment the citizens made in Vision 2025 to build a world-class venue like the BOK Center is providing a big return to the region and ensures Tulsa continues to be recognized as a sports leader. The bid submission process is arduous, but the payoff is tremendous."
The estimated economic impact of an NCAA First-Second Round tournament is approximately $4 million to $6 million. Tulsa has not hosted a First-Second Round tournament since 1985 and joins other hosts such as; Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Tampa, Tucson and Washington, D.C.