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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — With the NCAA teams arriving Tuesday, Intrust Bank Arena is getting ready for the national stage. Nearly every business in the area is prepping in its own way.
Standing in downtown Wichita, you can look in any direction and see a sign of the tournament, from the welcome signs on every light pole to the impossible-to-miss “Welcome to Wichita” banner draped on Intrust Bank’s front. For businesses, that excitement is rubbing off on them, and Tuesday evening is the calm before the storm.
“It all kind of has to come together last minute. So, it’s ‘what can you do first?’ ‘What can you do next?’ Things like that,” Crystal McDonald, Xclusive Events owner, said.
Party planners putting finishing touches on ICT NCAA Tournament events
The work’s pace is swift as roads are blocked and fences fly up.
“We’re going to get this fence up to keep everybody in with their alcohol so they can’t come out. So that’s what we’re doing right now, Chris Jewell with Event Elements jokingly said.
Over the days they’ve worked, not even the weather has slowed them down as they transform parking lots into venues.
“Had to batten them down a little when the wind came through, but hey, welcome to Kansas,” Jewell said. “We’re putting up party zones in this two-block area. We put up a 40×80 tent behind it. We put up a 40×100 over here.”
Tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through downtown Wichita once the games tipoff.
“A lot of times, when the NCAA hosts events, they may not see that outside the facilities. To be able to step outside, see all that excitement going on all day of the tournament is a really cool thing,” AJ Boleski, Regional General Manager for ASM Global, said.
Of the thousands, hundreds will flood out of the stadium and into the businesses now flanking every angle. The excitement also extending out to the wider downtown area.
“You got several businesses downtown that are doing some things too, but there’s going to be a lot of choices and a lot of stuff to do in this area,” Jewell said.
Essential info for NCAA attendees at Intrust Bank Arena
Most in the area are looking forward to the increased workload more than confident they can handle the crowds looking for a good time.
“It’s just kind of the last of the last-second stuff that we need to prep for, but we’re ready for the party; we’re ready for Wichita,” McDonald said.
Practice games for the NCAA teams begin on Wednesday, with the venues opening for business around 11 a.m. The practice games are free to the public.
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