Buffalo Welcomes NCAA Fans: WNY Activities & Volunteer Guide

Buffalo residents are volunteering to assist the thousands of visitors descending on the city for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, offering directions, recommendations, and a local perspective. Paul Baldo, a volunteer with Visit Buffalo, a destination marketing organization, is among approximately 60 trained individuals stationed throughout the city to support tournament attendees.

Baldo, who has volunteered for over twelve years and is participating in his third NCAA Tournament hosted by Buffalo since 2000, is positioned in hotels and near the KeyBank Center to provide assistance. Volunteers are helping visitors navigate downtown attractions, cultural institutions, and local restaurants, according to reports. “It’s exciting because there’s a lot of people coming into the area,” Baldo said. “I’ve been in Buffalo my whole life. I love it. I’ve traveled, I’ve been to other places, so I like being an ambassador for Buffalo, and it’s just a great vibe.”

In addition to the Visit Buffalo volunteers, roughly 140 certified tourism ambassadors are similarly working to support the event. The city anticipates approximately 19,000 visitors during the tournament. Many fans are taking the opportunity to experience Buffalo’s culinary scene, with the Anchor Bar, the purported birthplace of the Buffalo wing, experiencing increased patronage. Visitors from states including Michigan and California have made a point of sampling the local cuisine.

Despite rainy weather, visitors are exploring the city’s offerings, including local bars and museums. Natalie Bernecker, who traveled from Michigan, noted the positive experiences with local restaurants. Sharon and Nicholas Popp, from San Diego, attending their twenty-first March Madness tournament, specifically sought out the Anchor Bar. Jack Sheridan, a first-time visitor to Buffalo from Michigan, expressed his enjoyment of the city’s atmosphere and the chicken wings.