Best college wrestlers compete in Philadelphia for NCAA Championship

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- It's mat madness at the Wells Fargo Center!

For the first time since 2011, Philadelphia is hosting the NCAA Division I Wrestling Tournament, bringing thousands of athletes, coaches, and fans from 42 different states to the City of Brotherly Love.

"This is a bucket list thing for me when it came to my city," said John Martucci of Reading, Pa.

Larry Needle is the executive director of PHL Sports, part of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. His team is responsible for bringing the wrestling championship to Philadelphia.

"This is such a great event in terms of having such a loyal fan base, that they will follow it anywhere. So we know that going in, and its certainly one of the reasons it's such a coveted championship to bring to the city," Needle said.

As the competition heats up, so will the city's economy.

Some 100,000 visitors will dine in restaurants, stay in hotels and shop at local businesses.

"Hotels are doing great this week. There is a big following with wrestling, so we are seeing a lot of people coming to town," said Ed Grose, Executive Director of The Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association.

There is also a boost now that President Trump is set to attend on Saturday.

"We are starting to see the airport hotels do well with government rooms," said Grose.

For fans, this weekend of wrestling represents so much more than what happens on the mat.

"I read a stat, 55% of all corporate executives wrestled at one time in their life, so it is just something that resonates for life, and to watch my kids do it. It just tears me up," said Larry Chappell, who is visiting from Pittsburgh, Pa.

All matches will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and ESPN+.