Three thousand cases of beer. Five hundred pounds of ground beef. Fifteen hundred stomachs growling under two tents. Sounds like quite the barbeque.

Michigan State Spartan Kalin Lucas tries to get past Louisville Cardinals Edgar Sosa (10) during the first half of their NCAA men’s Midwest Regional finals basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 29, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

The numbers are actually what Megan Dieringer, manager of Cheli’s Chili Bar in downtown Detroit, expects when the NCAA Final Four tournament comes to Detroit this weekend.
“Detroit really needs this,” Dieringer said. “[We] need to be able to step up, show our colors just like we did in the Super Bowl.”

She expects that the tournament will draw crowds comparable to the MLB World Series in 2006.

Budweiser has rented out the second floor of Cheli’s for the duration of the event. Tents will be set up on the back and side lots to accommodate huge crowds and the bar will be standing room only to maximize space.

Frank Taylor, the restaurateur behind Seldom Blues, Detroit’s Breakfast House & Grill, and Detroit Fish Market at Paradise Valley, thinks this tournament is a bigger deal for the city than the Super Bowl was in 2006.

“It’s a longer time span. You’re talking about four or five days. Expect double or triple the volume [of an average night],” Taylor said.

Taylor’s restaurants are ordering more supplies, beefing up staff and extending hours during the tournament. He expects “a little bit of everybody,” including media from across the country as part of his clientele.

Michigan State Spartans coach Tom Izzo (L) hugs his players after they defeated the Louisville Cardinals in the NCAA men’s Midwest Regional finals basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana, March 29, 2009. REUTERS/Jeff Hayne

The four men’s basketball teams advancing to the Final Four are Michigan State, Connecticut, Villanova and North Carolina. Michigan State will face Connecticut on Saturday, April 4 at 6:07 p.m., immediately followed by Villanova vs. North Carolina, scheduled for an 8:47 p.m. tip-off.
The championship game is scheduled for Monday, April 6. The tournament will take place at Ford Field, home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The stadium accommodates 65,000 people, including 8,500 club seats and 132 suites.

The massive crowds over the weekend are expected to generate major revenue for the city.

Several off-the-court events leading up to the tournament are expected to draw their own crowds. The Big Dance will feature 40 of Detroit’s best local bands and some national headliners including the Pussycat Dolls performing on two stages. The three days of free concerts on the Detroit riverfront (just east of the Renaissance Center) kicks off on Friday, April 3. NCAA Hoop City, which hosts basketball activities, clinics, performances, photo-ops, prizes and more is set for April 3-6 at Cobo Center.

The airport is sure to see an influx of excited fans from across the nation. Unlike cities like New York or Chicago, Detroit does not heavily rely on cab service. Rental car companies instead are likely to feel the pressure.

“We’re hoping to have enough cars to accommodate because of the slow season,” said Nickem Reynolds, a senior shift manager at Avis Car Rental at Detroit Metro Airport. He said that during a normally slow season for the company, the extra volume is very welcome.

Taylor said the events are a great opportunity for the city’s businesses to complement each other.

“The economy has been hit tremendously, not only in Detroit, but throughout. Positive news needs to come out of Detroit,” he said.

He believes the city “shines well” and thinks the success of his businesses is directly related to the success of others in the area.

“Someone comes down to Seldom Blues, sees another restaurant and thinks, ‘I want to try that one next time.’ It’s all about helping to build our total downtown,” Taylor said.