Metroplex Gears Up For March Madness
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The Metroplex is gearing up for one of the biggest sporting events since the Super Bowl.
Final Four banners went up Monday around AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Inside of the stadium, thousands of seats were already removed to make way for temporary seating for the championship basketball weekend. Many organizers said that they hope to the have the basketball court ready by April 1.
Meanwhile, ESPN has chosen Fort Worth's Sundance Square as the center its broadcast operations. In about two weeks, the area will be decked out with a stage, decorations and the station's facilities.
Officials said they believe the event will bring in more than 100,000 fans and about $55 million. "The economic impact starts two months before the event and goes six months after," said Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck.
However, leaders in Fort Worth are considering making Sundance Square a 'clean zone' where selling food and merchandise would be restricted on streets and sidewalks. Permits would also be required for things like tents, canopies and signs. The goal is to make Fort Worth safe for drivers and pedestrians during the busy time. The ordinance would exclude Sundance Square Plaza, which is privately owned.
Fort Worth has been named one of the best downtown areas in the nation by the website Livability. The site said that Fort Worth has brought together "cowboy culture and urban sophistication" in a way that few others have.
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