Final Four could make Indy $25-35Million

INDIANAPOLIS - Hosting the NCAA's men's basketball championship at Lucas Oil Stadium will have a $25 to $35 million economic impact on Indianapolis, says Ball State economist Michael Hicks.

He believes that the city should see about 45,000 out-of-state visitors during the Final Four, scheduled for April 3 and 5.

"The Final Four is a great example of the type of sporting event which provides economic benefits to a region because it draws a large number of visitors from outside the region without displacing other events," says Hicks, director of Ball State's Center for Business and Economic Research.

" The impact of the Final Four is about a tenth the impact of upcoming Super Bowl will have on Indianapolis," he said.