BROWN COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) - Tonight several local girls basketball teams start on the road to the state tournament at the regional quarterfinals.

For the first time in its 38 year history that road will lead them to the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.

When a full calendar at the Kohl Center in Madison forced the WIAA to look at other venues, The Resch Center rose to the top.

With a capacity around 9,300 it was too small for the boys tournament which is staying in Madison.

However, it is just the right size for the girls.

"It does feel like we are on a job interview, you feel confident going in" says Cora Haltaufderheid, COO for  PMI Entertainment Group.

Resch Center managers like Haltaufderheid have put on a full court press, courting the WIAA.

"Competition makes everyone better" says Brad Toll, President of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. "I think this has been a good thing for WIAA. They are getting a better deal from Madison, getting a better deal from our area, as we compete with Madison" he explains.

Thousands of tickets have already been sold before the final teams are even determined.

"Ticket sales have been strong" according to Haltaufderheid. "WIAA has never gone on sale with tickets prior to the tournament, and they took advantage of our Ticket Star system which allows them to sell them online. It is a first for them, so all the tickets will be sold through our system" she explains.

Hotels have blocks of rooms set aside for teams. They expect fan rooms to fill up once the final brackets are announced.

"I think the prices are so reasonable at the hotels that people will want to stay one more day in Green Bay, see the mall right down the street, the shuttles are running, it is going to be an electric building" says Haltaufderheid.

It is an energy that has the community rolling out the welcome mat.

"Our hotel association is wearing t-shirts that will welcome the fans, buttons that welcome them, we are just doing a lot of extra things" she says.

Saint Norbert Women's basketball coach Connie Tilley travels to state each year to scout players.

She is excited about the change saying "every year I go and every year I get lost. Parking is a problem, getting hotel rooms is a problem" she says.

"Getting here is easy from highway 41, I-43 and highway 29" touts Toll. "We are really the cross roads of a number of major highways".

Parking is also a plus. The stadium district is designed to host more than 70,000 fans on a Packers game day. Estimates for this three day event are between 60,000 and 80,000.

"This event will bring a lot of people from surrounding cities in Northeast Wisconsin and it brings awareness to the stadium district" says Mike McNerney, General Manager, Green Bay Distillery "They will remember that [experience] either coming back for Resch Center events or Packers games".  

The financial impact to restaurants, hotels and retail only scratches the surface.

"We will use local printers to print a lot of posters, our website company that is local built a special webpage for us to post all the info for WIAA" explains Toll.

Money spent to print merchandise is also staying local and when you by a bag of chips or soda at the Resch, area non-profits benefit.

"The concessions will be filled with volunteer groups like they always do" says Haltaufderheid. "The other thing is our bottling company 7up made logo bottles that say WIAA girls basketball".

Little extras that Titletown hopes will secure the tournament far beyond its two year contract.

"We really have given them our best shot we will make Green Bay proud when this is done" Haltaufderheid says with a smile.

The state tournament is march 14-16. Click here for information on tickets.

Coming up Wednesday night on Local 5 News at 10:00 pm, why which teams make it to state could dramatically change the financial impact for Titletown.