Beyond the basketball court, the Houston economy appears to be the big winner of the Final Four.

Across the city, several restaurants, bars and hotels reported big boosts in customers and cash flow, as an estimated 70,000 out-of-town basketball fans arrived for the NCAA men's basketball championship. Organizers say those fans could spend $150 million in a city that could use a lift as a prolonged oil slump persists.

"I feel like it's exceeded expectations," said Rachel Quan, vice president of external operations for the Houston Final Four Local Organizing Committee.

Many local officials and business leaders said they view the Final Four as something of a test-run for next year's Super Bowl. The city is sprucing up to accommodate the thousands of expected visitors with a slew of development projects - from road improvements around NRG Stadium and Hobby Airport to building the Marriott Marquis that will connect with the George R. Brown Convention Center.

The benefits of hosting major sporting events -weighing costs and crowds versus the visitor spending and promotion - have long been debated. At times, the city struggled over the weekend to accommodate the swarms of Final Four visitors. Concerts at Discovery Green in downtown were so busy that police were forced to turn people away, leading some to complain of poor planning.

The Final Four alone might not create a wave of economic growth, but is the culmination of events like the Super Bowl and the annual Offshore Technology Conference next month that have the greatest potential impact, said Barton Smith, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Houston.

"Collectively, it can be a very important part of the Houston economy," he said.

'Stupidly busy'

The economic numbers from the past weekend won't be tallied for some time, but early reports from businesses large and small have been promising.

At MKT Bar at Phoenicia Specialty Foods near Discovery Green, sales doubled on Friday and Saturday, then tripled on Sunday. At Atlantic Aviation, which provides parking and fuel services for private, corporate and chartered aircraft at Hobby Airport, landings were up by 75 percent over the weekend.

"All those outside dollars coming into the Houston economy then become income for Houston workers and Houston establishments," Smith said.

But the weekend's activity wasn't limited to big corporations or established eateries. Samantha Villarreal, an Airbnb host, said people were so desperate for lodging that they offered to pay more than the listing price for her downtown apartment. She rented her one-bedroom apartment for $280 a night.

More Information Tips for flying home The Houston Airport System provided the following tips for college basketball fans flying home: Travelers with a souvenir Final Four program should pack those in carry-on luggage. Elements in these programs can potentially slow down the screening process for checked bags. Arrive two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights as Tuesday could be a busy travel day. When approaching the Transportation Security Administration security checkpoint, have a government-issued photo ID or passport available with the boarding pass. Passengers not eligible for TSA's PreCheck program should be prepared to remove shoes and jackets for screening. All laptops, portable DVD players or large electronic items must be placed in their own bin. Check with airlines for the most up-to-date flight status. Travelers can take advantage of the free Wi-Fi at Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport.

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"A price that I would never, in my nature, ask for," she said. Usually her apartment goes for $85 or $95.

Indeed, downtown Houston was "stupidly busy," said Chris Tripoli, president of A'La Carte Foodservice Consulting Group. "You couldn't get any more people in the restaurants."

MKT Bar near Discovery Green stayed open late to accommodate the influx in customers. Friday through Sunday, it sold 1,140 pints of beer, 3,384 alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks, and 2,810 plates of food.

"It was pretty exciting," said owner Haig Tcholakian. "A lot of energy around."

Several business hubs

Tcholakian said the Final Four helped MKT Bar to be better prepared for traffic closures and to be ready with alternate routes. "It gives us a little taste of what to expect," he said. "It was a great test run."

Galleria-area restaurants pulled in more customers because of their proximity to hotels and the well-known shopping center, while Midtown and Montrose were also busy because they were close to the concerts and other events, Tripoli said. Restaurants near NRG Stadium received some boost from people gathering before or after the game.

Downtown hotels reported strong bookings. Hyatt Regency Houston was "definitely a lot busier," said Joe Vanden Heuvel, director of sales and marketing.

The nearby Hilton Americas-Houston was bustling as well, said Janice O'Neill-Cox, director of sales and marketing. She credits the Final Four.

"As far as the economic impact for the hotel," she said, "it was definitely wildly successful."