Fans at U.S. Bank Stadium are pumped up the day before the men's Final Four begins at U.S. Bank Stadium, when the festivities really kick off with Final Four Friday.
"Whatever happens, we'll be happy," Marilyn Batts of Auburn, Ala., said, adding that the college town was "jubilant" celebrating the Tigers' first Final Four appearance in university history. "We're just glad to be here, part of the Final Four."
"Texas Tech has never been here before, so it's history," Rebecca Hudzietz of Lubbock, Tex., who arrived in Minneapolis with her aunt just about an hour before the doors opened at U.S. Bank Stadium, said. "Lots of people are going crazy. I think all the flights were booked out of Lubbock today."
Batts and Hudzietz are among the thousands of Tigers and Red Raiders fans who jumped on travel plans, coming to Minneapolis for the first time when their teams won in the Elite Eight. Appearances from No. 1 seed Virginia and perennial power Michigan State were a little more predictable, but downtown Minneapolis is swarming with excited visitors to Final Four Friday, which features the teams' free and open-to-the-public practices, as well as the college All-Star Game (including Gopher Jordan Murphy).
Final Four Friday, the Fan Fest at the Convention Center and the Tip-Off Tailgate on the Nicollet Mall are all just as fun for locals.
"I love it," Kathy Rainey of Plymouth said. "It's an opportunity for Minneapolis to showcase, and to show how cool we are and what we value, so I think it's really wonderful that we do it."
Officials expect around 20,000 people to come to the stadium before the games even tip-off.
The national semifinals are Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium starting with the Virginia Cavaliers vs. Auburn Tigers at approximately 5 p.m., followed by the Michigan State Spartans vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders at 7:45 p.m.
All the information on events is here.