NCAA basketball tourney passes on Tulsa for 2014, '15
BY BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
11/13/12 at 5:54 AM
Tulsa is not among cities designated to host NCAA Tournament men's second- and third-round basketball games in 2014 and 2015.
The NCAA announced the 2014 and 2015 sites on Monday morning. After hosting NCAA games at the BOK Center in 2011, the Tulsa Sports Commission submitted a bid to host again in 2014 or 2015.
Among eight cities that hosted 2011 second- and third-round contests, Tulsa ranked seventh in average attendance at 14,274. With an average of 10,507, Tucson, Ariz., ranked eighth. Tulsa hosted NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 1985 at Oral Roberts University's Mabee Center.
In a statement released to the Tulsa World, Ray Hoyt, senior vice president of VisitTulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission, said, "While the Tulsa Sports Commission continues to strengthen its relationship with the NCAA through secured events such as the recently announced women's golf championship finals (in 2014 at Tulsa Country Club), it is disappointing that Tulsa was not selected as site for the 2014 and 2015 men's basketball rounds.
"The Tulsa Sports Commission will continue to identify future opportunities with the NCAA, including future men's basketball rounds, and is confident we will host more events with the organization as our relationship grows."
The 2014 second- and third-round sites are Buffalo, N.Y.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Orlando, Fla.; Spokane, Wash.; Raleigh, N.C.; San Antonio; San Diego and St. Louis. The 2015 second- and third-round sites are Jacksonville, Fla.; Louisville, Ky.; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; Charlotte, N.C.; Columbus, Ohio; Omaha, Neb.; and Seattle.
Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's vice president of men's basketball, reports that Tulsa was one of 53 cities involved in the 2014 and 2015 bid process.
Original Print Headline: NCAA tourney passes on Tulsa
Bill Haisten 918-581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
