CLEVELAND — For the first time in a decade, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is back in Cleveland this weekend. 

What You Need To Know

  • The NCAA Men's Basketball first and second rounds are back in Cleveland for the first time in 15 years 

  • The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission said the event will bring in $8 million to the city

  • Local businesses are expecting to see a major influx of customers 

Eight teams will compete on Friday at Rocket Arena with the winners advancing to Sunday’s Round of 32. 

Downtown Cleveland bars like the Harry Buffalo said events like this are crucial to their businesses. 

“Profits are going to be a lot higher,” said Dom Nelson, a bartender at the Harry Buffalo. “Bartenders are going to make some money. Servers make more money, everybody’s going to be having fun doing it. That’s what it’s all about.”

It’s not just bars and restaurants that benefit from the city hosting the NCAA Tournament. The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission estimates the region will bring in $8 million as a result of the games.

Cleveland Clothing Company General Manager Vincent Griffin hopes it will have a similar impact that hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four did last year. 

“Last year the Women’s Final Four was one of our busiest weekends of the year,” Griffin said. “That was followed up by the eclipse, which was great. We’re hoping to bring in similar business this weekend. It’s exciting just getting ready for it and seeing people coming into town. We’ve already been seeing people coming in.” 

Fans like Cleveland native Tracy Christler are excited to see their city in the national spotlight.  

“Really gives us the opportunity to shine for sports fans all across the country to see what we know here and living in The Land,” Christler said. 

The events this weekend are happening as the Cleveland Browns are pushing to build a domed stadium in nearby Brook Park.

If that happens, it could put the region in line to host even bigger events like the Super Bowl or Final Four.

Downtown business owners had mixed reaction when asked about that possibility. Some of them saying they would anticipate a similar influx of customers but at the same time worry whether people would still come downtown if the stadium’s not in the city.