Tulsa Businesses Prepare For Big Crowds As BOK Center Hosts Wrestling Championships

Restaurants and hotels around Tulsa are getting ready for big crowds as the NCAA Wrestling national championships comes to town later this week.

People from all over the country are already making reservations at local hotspots.

Banners around Tulsa and signs outside the BOK Center are ready to welcome athletes and fans of college wrestling. Hotels near the venue are already full for the weekend.

“We’re sold out,” said Kristin Hall, Fairfield Inn & Suites. “We’ve been sold out for about a year if not longer.”

Staff at the hotel are preparing nearly 100 rooms just on Wednesday. They plan to re-stock amenities and make sure everything is in order for the crowds.

This weekend’s event is getting compared to last year when professional golf came to Tulsa.

“We’re treating it as the PGA,” said Hall.

Restaurants are also gearing up. At Mexicali Border Café, managers are making sure they are stocked up on food and alcohol.

“We’ve had to turn down reservations just because we know there’s going to be so many people here,” said Sean Parnell, a manager at the restaurant.

The Tulsa tourism office anticipates a more than $19 million total economic impact just for the championships.