BUFFALO (WBEN - Brendan Keany) - Local tourism is preparing for the NCAA Frozen Four.
Local officials discussing details of the upcoming NCAA Frozen Four tournament that's being held in Buffalo. The two semifinals games will be on Thursday, April 11, and the championship game will take place that Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/jdnpi59atW
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"We are having a session for our local tourism industry to become aware of the NCAA Frozen Four that's coming up, as well as some of the other meetings and activities that will be taking place in our early spring," said Visit Buffalo Niagara CEO Patrick Kaler.
Kaler noted that Buffalo has become a sort of hotspot to host these types of events, and he attributes the community's success to a variety of factors.
"It's one of our biggest successes through Buffalo Niagara and our sports commission - working with our local organizing committees who have a passion or an interest in the different sports that we are bringing to Buffalo - to have those local connections and then to really raise the awareness of having NCAA or some of the other national tournaments...that we've had in the past," he said. "It's just really a fantastic opportunity to showcase the venues that we have, showcase the wonderful things that people can do in between the games. We're just very fortunate that we have a perfect storm for sports, entertainment and events like that coming to Buffalo."
Pete Harvey of the Buffalo sports commission says it's imperative that everyone who comes to the city for the tournament can see what the city and region is all about.
"Canisius, Niagara, the Sabres and the Key Bank Center...I always say those people take care of everything that's happening inside the arena," began Harvey. "Our job is to make sure that the teams, the fans and everybody that's in town, once they leave that building, have the best experience that they can have."
As for the actual games, the semifinals will take place on Thursday, April 11, and the championship game will begin at 8 p.m. on that Saturday. The two games on Thursday are a single-ticket event, which means spectators don't have to leave the building and come back for the second game.
There are still tickets available for the games.
