Nearly 50,000 people came to Wichita for the NCAA tournament
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The NCAA has come and gone for Wichita. From Wednesday to Saturday, Intrust Bank Arena saw around 46,000 people come in and out of the tournament, with even more on the streets outside.
Such a big event comes with days of cleanup and things are moving swiftly. Event Elements, who helped setup and maintain many of the tents and party venues, estimate they’ll be done by Tuesday. That gives them and the arena plenty of time to reflect on how Wichita handled the national stage.
“I mean any time you can host an NCAA basketball event … is pretty amazing,” Regional Manager for ASF Global and Intrust bank Arena AJ Boleski said. “Obviously [it was] a fast-paced week for us, but a fun one. And it was really great to see it all come together in the end.”
According to Boleski, the tournament went smoothly, with only a few minor hitches. He and his team intend to use the experience they’ve gained to correct any issues.
“Parking and the transportation, we’ll get together with them, law enforcement and make some notes so we remember how to do it next time,” he said.
The streets surrounding the arena are marked with remnants from nearly a week’s worth of parties.
“Saturday, yesterday was really good. There was a lot of people out, just from the 4 teams that remained,” Chris Jewell with Event Elements said. “We’ve torn up our stage, [we’re] fixing to take down the trucks, the bike rack is piled up and we’re fixing to move on.”
With their new lessons and ideas for how to handle the next big event, they hope to stay on the NCAA’s radar.
“I had a lot of people that said thank you for Wichita hosting the NCAA so hopefully they’ll come back again soon,” Jewell said.
For Intrust Bank Arena and its staff, the week following the tournament is a transitionary week. They’re working on turning the NCAA-issued basketball court into an ice rink for the Wichita Thunder game on Friday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
-
Why Wichita NCAA Tournament site means more to Missouri basketball guard Caleb Grill
Missouri basketball standout Caleb Grill is Wichita, Kansas, native, meaning he’ll play in his hometown in the Round of 64 of the NCAA Tournament.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
A look at Intrust Bank Arena’s non-profit manned concession stands
Practice day has wrapped up, and the NCAA Tournament is about to start. Intrust Bank Arena is home to vendors, merch stores and concession stands, all gearing up for the next few days.Yahoo Sports - 5d -
Gonzaga earns No. 8 seed in NCAA Tournament, opens against No. 9 Georgia in Wichita
Mar. 16—Gonzaga is headed to Wichita, Kansas. The Zags earned a No. 8 seed for the NCAA Tournament where they will play No. 9 Georgia in the opening round on Thursday in the Midwest Region. The ...Yahoo Sports - Mar. 17 -
Bulldogs with bite: Gonzaga storms out to big lead, powers past Georgia for 89-68 NCAA Tournament win
Mar. 20—WICHITA, Kan. — After a few extended scoring runs from Gonzaga, Georgia briefly turned the momentum midway through the first half of Thursday's NCAA Tournament opener. Dakota Leffew knocked ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
No. 8 Gonzaga relying on NCAA Tournament experience ahead of matchup with No. 9 Georgia
Mar. 19—WICHITA, Kan. — With more than two decades of success on the sport's biggest stage, it requires a considerable amount of ink to print all of Gonzaga's NCAA Tournament superlatives and ...Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Dave Boling: Near-perfect Gonzaga sets table for 'vintage' NCAA Tournament run
Mar. 20—WICHITA, Kan. — This game felt like an appetizer. Tasty, and a bit teasing, creating a hunger for more satisfying encounters ahead. Gonzaga's 89-68 thrashing of Georgia in the NCAA ...Yahoo Sports - 5d -
A look at the final round of prep for businesses for the NCAA Tournament
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 their own way.Yahoo Sports - 6d -
Man accused of violent assault on American Airlines flight from Wichita to D.C.
A Texas man has been arrested by the FBI for an alleged assault against multiple people on an American Airlines flight exactly five weeks after another American Airlines flight crashed while ...CBS News - Mar. 11 -
Key matchup: Gonzaga knows Asa Newell's game, but containing Georgia freshman could be a challenge in NCAA opener
Mar. 19—WICHITA, Kan. — From Mark Few's dinner table to the top of Gonzaga's scouting report, Georgia's Asa Newell not only qualifies as the most important matchup of Thursday's NCAA Tournament ...Yahoo Sports - 6d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Bemidji High School Mock Trial honored at celebratory reception
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — There are times when a team's victory necessitates public recognition. Such was the case for the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team, whose seventh-place finish at the Minnesota ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
First all-Indigenous 3-man officiating crew makes history at basketball state tournament
Mar. 25—On March 14, Dan Jourdain made his first MSHSL state basketball tournament appearance in over two decades. Back in 2003, he made it to state while playing for Red Lake High School. But this ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
Florida baseball blows comeback against FSU in grand fashion
Florida nearly pulled of a miraculous comeback against Florida State Tueday night. Instead, the Gators leave Jax still searching for answers.Yahoo Sports - 30m
More in Sports
-
Xavier hiring Richard Pitino: Musketeers move quickly, hire New Mexico coach after Sean Miller's departure
Pitino, 42, has spent the past 13 seasons as a Division I head coach and will now go up against his father, Rick, in the Big EastCBS Sports - 29m -
First all-Indigenous 3-man officiating crew makes history at basketball state tournament
Mar. 25—On March 14, Dan Jourdain made his first MSHSL state basketball tournament appearance in over two decades. Back in 2003, he made it to state while playing for Red Lake High School. But this ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
Bemidji High School Mock Trial honored at celebratory reception
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — There are times when a team's victory necessitates public recognition. Such was the case for the Bemidji High School Mock Trial team, whose seventh-place finish at the Minnesota ...Yahoo Sports - 29m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 30m -
4 Beavers named to CSC Academic All-District Team
Mar. 25—BEMIDJI — The Bemidji State women's basketball team landed four student-athletes on this year's College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's Basketball teams. Included in this ...Yahoo Sports - 30m