Tulsa's BOK Center To Host Men's Basketball Tournament In 2028

The big dance is coming back to Tulsa. 

The NCAA announced the BOK center will host first and second round games of the 2028 men's tournament.  

The Tulsa Sports Commission is excited for the NCAA men's basketball tournament to return to the BOK center in four years. 

Leaders said Tulsa's recent success with other major sporting events, including three recent professional golf tournaments helped secure the big dance. 

"For Tulsa to be selected, I think speaks volumes to what this city is doing and what they have been doing over the last few years," said Joel Koester. 

Tulsa was one of 25 cities chosen to host the March Madness tournament in 2028. The city will host the first and second rounds of the men's tournament.

The BOK Center has previously hosted the tournament in 2011, 2017 and 2019. Oklahoma State University will serve as the host school for the first time. 

The Tulsa Sports Commission said it was a huge accomplishment being chosen to host the games, especially since many larger cities got nothing, but it wasn't something that could have been done alone. 

"Tulsans are resilient. Everything that's happening with this town, not only from an economic development standpoint but our downtown, our hospitality community, we have some of the best attractions in the world, all of those things play a factor when we're trying to bring these events here," Koester said. 

Koester said scoring round one and two of the championships gives Tulsa momentum to keep bringing large events to the city and help the local economy.

The tournament is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the city.