INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As Indianapolis prepares to host one of the biggest events in college basketball, downtown business owners say they are getting ready for a surge in customers.

“We do have some extra inventory coming in just to make sure we have enough for anybody who’s in town that may need something, but we carry a pretty heavy selection of souvenirs and that type of thing all year round,” said Kim White, Co-owner of Circle City Souvenirs.

The NCAA Men’s Final Four on April 4th and 6th is just the main event. The city will also host the Division II, III, and NIT Basketball Championships.

The events are expected to bring tens of thousands of fans to the city; filling hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues.

City leaders say it’s not just about basketball, but the ripple effect across the local economy. According to Morgan Snyder, vice president of communications at Visit Indy, there’s an expected 70,000 visitors coming to the city. Hotels are already sold out.

“According to our partners at Indiana Sports Corp, it’s about a $400 million economic impact,” said Snyder.

From concerts and fan expereinces to events along Georgia Street, Snyder says there will be something for everyone. After months on construction, Georgia Steet is expected to repoen just in time, clearing the way for crowds and celebrations.

“It’ll be a tailgate fan fest zone all weekend long to come in and enjoy. It’ll be a major thoroughfare for fans coming either from Gainbridge Fieldhouse or Lucas Oil Stadium to catch some of the game,” said Snyder.

For businesses, a packed downtown is a chance to shine on a national stage, and make a lasting impression on visitors.

“Typically we do pretty well when we’ve got big events in town. We also sell items like hotel gift shops like Sundries, and snacks and drinks so we do sell a lot of that as well,” said White.

“They’re going to come in and see and find just how vibrant of a destination Indianapolis is. They’re going to come back and book another trip. It’s a strategy that has worked for us for years,” said Snyder

Check out the list of full events here.

Planned Parenthood will shutter two Indianapolis clinics, leaving its Georgetown Road facility as the only local branch of the nationwide organization.

The Midtown and Southside locations will close effective Friday, April 3. The Georgetown health center will have “additional appointment availability and services” in the wake of the closure, according to Planned Parenthood’s regional website.

Patients receiving ongoing care like birth control or hormone replacement therapy can continue to do so through telehealth or by visiting another Planned Parenthood location, the website said.

More on abortion in Indiana: Ruling may not expand access much in short term, advocates say

“Because of changes to federal funding, including the loss of Medicaid reimbursements, we are making difficult but necessary adjustments to our health center network so we can continue caring for patients in our communities for years to come,” an FAQ posted with the closure announcement read in part.

Planned Parenthood estimated in 2024 that about half of patients receive care paid through either Medicaid or the Title X family planning program, which covers contraception and STI screening for low-income Americans. The Trump administration has moved to block the organization from receiving money from both streams.

Trump’s signature budget legislation, the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025 with a provision banning clinics that provide abortion, including Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid reimbursement for one year.

It has been illegal since 1976 to use federal dollars, including Medicaid, to cover abortion unless it’s necessary to save a life or to terminate a pregnancy caused by rape or incest. Planned Parenthood does not perform any abortions in Indiana, as the state’s near-total ban only allows the procedure to be performed in narrow circumstances at hospitals or their surgery centers.

For months, Planned Parenthood contested the constitutionality of the Medicaid funding ban in various federal courts, dropping its case on Jan. 30, 2026, after an appeals court ruled in the government’s favor.

Though the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services restored Title X money to clinics in December 2025 after withholding it for eight months, recipients learned last week that they have one week to reapply for funding. That’s typically a months-long process, and more than 100 congressional Democrats are asking HHS to extend current grants for another year, NPR reported on March 17.

Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.