Businesses hope for NCAA economic boost-WEB ONLY

The NCAA tournament is expected to pump more than $7 million into the local economy, and some downtown business owners are counting on that cash to help them through the recession. Downtown officials say Indianapolis caught a big break in the way the tournament has shaped up. With a shorter travel time, fans of teams like Michigan State and Louisville are more likely to make the trek to the Circle City. Practices for the Midwest Regionals begin today at Lucas Oil Stadium. They are free and open to the public from noon until 4 p.m.