By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Buffalo will once again play host to the first two rounds of the NCAA men's basketball tournament this week. The tourney is expected to bring 12,000 visitors to Buffalo.
The colleges and universities coming to Buffalo were announced Sunday night. Monday morning, the Buffalo-Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau will be reaching out to those schools and the media in their communities to help fans book hotel rooms here. This is the third time Buffalo has hosted the opening rounds of what's become known as "March Madness" at HSBC Arena.
CVB President Richard Geiger says they'll be better prepared than ever for the influx of visitors. Fans attending the tournament the last time it was held here in March 2004 complained of long waits at crowded downtown restaurants. So, this time Geiger says the lobby of the Adam's Mark and the atrium at the HSBC Center across from the arena will be offering food service between games. And shuttle service will be available to transport fans to restaurants outside the downtown core.
Geiger said there are a sufficient number of hotel rooms in the area to accommodate visitors.
He said the basketball tournament will have $4 million impact on the local economy.
Among the opening round games at HSBC Arena this weekend will be Maryland against Davidson, Butler vs. Old Dominion, Duke vs. VCU and Pittsburgh against Wright State.
Niagara University's men's basketball team has been assigned to the play-in game to determine the 64th and final seed for the NCAA tournament. The Purple Eagles will take on Florida A and M in Dayton Ohio Tuesday night. The winner will take on Western region top seeded Kansas in an opening round game on Friday.
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