The signs around downtown Tampa say it all: the 2025 NCAA Womens Final Four is almost here.Its the fourth time Tampa has hosted the event.Were definitely prepping for a busy weekend, said Michael Przybycin, the controller for Bu rton Holdings, which owns Gen X Tavern.WATCH Tampa Bay gears up for NCAA Women's Final Four takeover Tampa businesses prepare for influx of fans for NCAA Women's Final FourOver at Gen X Tavern in Tampa, fans will be able to watch on screens big and small, just not the nostalgic TVs at the 80s/90s-themed bar.Its staffing. Its ordering more ice-cold libations, plenty stocking up on the food. We have DJs in here Friday and Saturday nights for the entertainment to keep the party going late after the games on Friday, and were ready for that crowd to come after the game on Sunday as well, said Przybycin.Bringing in fans for the Womens Final Four teams, South Carolina, UConn, Texas, and UCLA, means big business for bars, restaurants, and hotels.Heather French, the Director of Sales at Hotel Tampa Riverwalk, said they are sold out for the weekend and expect most fans to start coming in on Thursday or Friday.The amount of fans that we have coming in, even before the teams were announced, is great, which just shows that theres a really big following for womens basketball, said French.Rob Higgins, the Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, pointed out the events ripple effect of impacts.We project that well do somewhere around 23,000 hotel visit room nights if not more, and those people are definitely shopping in our shops, eating in our restaurants, and taking in all that our community has to offer, said Higgins. This is going to be a great shot in the arm when it comes to our local economy.The excitement is building, with a boost to business as basketball takes over Tampa.Just to watch how downtown has completely transformed from a place of business, 9-5 Monday through Friday, to almost 24 hours a day, theres things going on all in the area, and downtown is doing huge, and for them to bring more and more events like this just really spotlights Tampa, and were proud to be part of it, said Przybycin.South Carolina will take on Texas on Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m., while UConn will play UCLA at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Womens National Championship game is Sunday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ...read more read less