NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The NCAA women's basketball tournament will be held this weekend at Purcell Pavilion on the University of Notre Dame campus. The last time Notre Dame hosted a women's NCAA tournament was 1983.



A brand new floor was just installed at Purcell Pavilion in preparation for the big game.



"It's just kind of nice to see the NCAA logos and kind of feel that you're hosting a little bit of history here, just not the history that we have at the university but the history of being part of the NCAA tournament," said Paul Stevenson with the St. Joe Valley Club of Notre Dame.



Fans aren't the only ones excited, businesses are looking forward to getting in on the action as well.



"We have several big top reservations, more than 15 for Saturday morning, which we know the games start one at noon, one at 2:30, so we're definitely expecting a lot of families from there to stop in for brunch," said Jordan Mullins, manager of The Mark.

 

With Kentucky, Baylor and Oklahoma State fans invading South Bend for the madness, local restaurants are gearing for a break from the winter lull.

 

"We have also doubled our beer and liquor and wine, as well as ordering  a couple more chairs and we've added a couple of people on support staff, bussers, bartenders, barbacks, so we're trying to do everything we can," said Mullins.



Notre Dame hasn't hosted a women's NCAA tournament since 1983-so loyal alumni and fans want to make sure this weekend's piece of history includes a win for the blue and gold.

 

"They call it March Madness for a reason, a lot of strange things happen so we just want to make sure that nothing unusual happens this weekend except for an Irish victory so it'll be fun," said Stevenson.



Kentucky and Baylor will face off at noon Saturday-followed by Notre Dame and Oklahoma State at 2:30.