LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the Final Four draws closer, fans are coming to New Orleans in full force.
As fans continue to arrive, the Big Easy is expected to be awash in a sea of red and blue. Business owners say they expect to be plenty busy for the next few days but they welcome the crowds.
On Bourbon Street, restaurants and taverns are flying the colors of Kentucky and UofL basketball, hoping to cash in on basketball fever -- with one business even displaying a Wildcat flag.
The New Orleans Convention Bureau estimates the economic impact of the Final Four between $120 to $145 million.
James McConnaughey, who works at the Daiquiri Delight Shop on Bourbon Street, says he knows it will be busy, but it will also be a lot of fun.
"It's a lot of business," he said. "And we'll have a great group of people out here partying. It should be a lot of fun."
Kendrick Jordan at Beach on Bourbon agrees. "We're expecting it to be real packed. I mean we've got four different states coming out, a lot of crazy teenagers -- it's going to be pretty wild. I'm kind of excited."
We'll have more updates on the Final Four excitement in New Orleans throughout the week.
The Cards and Cats face off in the New Orleans Superdome Saturday. Tipoff is set for 6:09 p.m. on CBS.
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