The city is anticipating more than 100,000 tourists will travel to the Alamo City to cheer on their favorite college basketball team.
SAN ANTONIO — Downtown San Antonio businesses are bracing for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four, which is just weeks away.
The city is anticipating more than 100,000 tourists will travel to the Alamo City to cheer on their favorite college basketball team. The city also estimates $20 million will be spent locally.
On Tuesday night, during spring break, foot traffic was already flowing for businesses near Hemisfair Park. Andrew Bryson, operations manager for Dough Pizzeria Napoletana, said business has been steady despite the construction nearby.
“We’re a huge convention city,” Bryson said. “We love tourists. That’s our bread and butter here.”
However, they are also ready for the crowds in April—when college basketball fans will fill the downtown streets.
“We’re staying open late, were taking reservations already for that weekend,” Bryson said. “We’re anticipating a lot of volume down here.”
Across the street at the Italian restaurant Battalion, workers are also starting to book reservations for the weekend of April 4. General Manager Noami Huizar recalled in 2018, when San Antonio last hosted the men’s Final Four.
“It’s awesome, it’s killer,” Huizar said of the influx in business. “We love when people come in.”
Trish DeBerry, CEO of Centro San Antonio, said her organization is not only helping promote all the businesses downtown, but making sure downtown is prim and polished.
“There’s a little bit of madness downtown already, especially with preps, cleaning up, power washing, planting of foliage because we want to make sure downtown puts its best foot forward,” DeBerry said.
She said her Centro ambassadors will be ready to go in March Madness jerseys to help tourists navigate downtown, especially with all the orange barrels.
“We are ready to go, we’re amped for as many people to come as possible,” Huizar said.
To learn more about events that are happening starting April 4, click here.