Fans from across the nation are headed to the Capital City this weekend.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento is taking center stage this weekend as NCAA women’s basketball tournament games bring crowds, energy and millions of dollars into the city’s downtown core.
In the Downtown Commons district, known as DOCO, signs are up, decorations are in place and fans are filling the restaurants and shops as the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games get underway.
At Tom’s Watch Bar, the influx of fans is already noticeable.
“It’s awesome, Friday is normally not very busy for lunch. We’ve got so many fans coming in,” said Wil Gonzales, operating partner of Sacramento’s Tom’s Watch Bar. “We saw a lot more business coming in at lunch yesterday with the fans coming in.”
Many of those fans traveled from across the country, often finding a sense of community once they arrived.
“Everyone on the plane was coming for the tournament. There’s no doubt about it,” said Elizabeth Sanderson, a fan from Arizona.
“The plane we were on was from multiple schools. We flew out of Phoenix here and from all the schools participating, there were fans,” said Beth Brill, a fan from Minnesota.
Once in Sacramento, visitors say the city itself has become part of the experience.
“It’s a city that’s got something happening. There’s good food and a nice vibe here, I think,” Brill said. “It’s like a better Oakland.”
Others echoed the excitement.
“It’s going to be a great weekend for everybody here. We’re all going to eat here and enjoy all the festivities,” said Tracy Ferguson, a fan from the Bay Area.
“We’ve had a good time here, the weather’s been great. We’ve had fun shopping around and eating great food and now we’re ready for game time,” said Tiffany Sangster, a fan from Nevada.
Even as the games begin, local tourism leaders say the city is already seeing the win.
“Having it in the central business district is a big deal for us,” said Mike Testa, CEO of Visit Sacramento. “These teams are coming from far outside of Sacramento. Contributes about $10 million to our economy… about 13,000 hotel rooms, you’ve got a national television audience.”
Testa says the momentum won’t stop when the weekend ends. Sacramento is set to host men’s tournament games next year, bringing another wave of visitors, spending and national attention.
“Kudos to Sacramento for getting this tournament, hosting it, and I would encourage them to do it again,” said Brill. “We definitely would come back.”
Watch more from ABC10: Kara Lawson returns to Sacramento as Duke faces LSU in NCAA Tournament
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