Basketball fans descending on the Twin Cities for next month's Final Four will be greeted by a four-day tailgate on Nicollet Mall, where a giant Ferris wheel and outdoor concert venue are meant to wow out-of-town guests.
Ten blocks away, a free music festival at the Minneapolis Armory is also expected to attract large crowds.
The growing list of festivities is designed to hype the annual NCAA college basketball championship at U.S. Bank Stadium, held April 5-8.
"It's like the nation's biggest college reunion," Final Four committee CEO Kate Mortenson said Wednesday. "Downtown Minneapolis will be lit with college basketball fever."
The City Council signed off on a proposal to redirect bus traffic off Nicollet for the Tip-off Tailgate, a walkable experience between S. 8th and 12th streets. Cross traffic should remain open everywhere but 10th Street — the location for a family-friendly Ferris wheel.
Similar to last year's 10-day Super Bowl Live event, Nicollet Mall will be loaded with food and drink stalls, live TV interviews, corporate kiosks and interactive games.
What's different is the clientele.
Catering to a college basketball fan base means entertaining a wide swath of college students who travel alongside their home teams. University bands and pep squads are known for spontaneous rallies leading up to the game. Some might even serenade revelers eating at sidewalk cafes.