Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The first three-pointer has yet to be recorded, but Buffalo stands to be a major winner by hosting the NCAA's regional men's basketball rounds this week.
The games will be played this week on Thursday and Saturday at KeyBank Center and Visit Buffalo is predicting more than 19,000 hoops fans will be headed into downtown.
Visit Buffalo is predicting the games could have a $7.6 million economic impact - in the form of hotel bookings, extended business at bars and restaurants and other related events.
"But that could be on the low level," said Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo president and CEO. "It will probably be higher."
Coming to Buffalo are: Michigan, Michigan State, Georgia, North Dakota State, Saint Louis, Southern Florida, Louisville and the winner of the Howard/UMBC play-in game.
Visit Buffalo is ready with a small army of 60 volunteers ready to help with any question visitors may have.
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For Buffalo, this the eighth time since 2000 that KeyBank Center has hosted the NCAA regionals.
The arena has also hosted two NCAA Frozen Four championships and twice hosted the IIHF World Juniors hockey competition.
"Buffalo is not new to this moment," Kaler said. "Each time we host something like this, we learn something new."
Pete Guelli, Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills chief operating officer, said the NCAA regionals is just one of many high profile events he hopes will come to Buffalo.
"Our goal is to bring as many marquee events as we can to Buffalo," Guelli said.
Last year, Visit Buffalo brought in 85 amateur and professional sporting events and Kaler said he hopes to bring in as many, if not more, this year.
Sporting events booked by Visit Buffalo are expected to generate at least $81 million in a regional economic impact this year, Kaler said.
Mayor Sean Ryan said he wants to see more sporting and other high profile events come to Buffalo, especially downtown.
Those are part of Ryan's strategy to help bring downtown's economic and development swagger back.
"We need to grow downtown," Ryan said. "We need big events. We need small events. This (the NCAA regionals) is a big event."