A busy Saturday in Salt Lake City: NCAA tourney, FanX and St. Pat's parade
A strange confluence of basketball fans, pop-culture geeks and Irish enthusiasts will meet in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday, as three very different events will draw crowds.
Fans attending the second round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament will fill Vivint Smart Home Arena on Saturday. Meanwhile, the second day of FanX — Salt Lake Comic Con's celebration of fantasy, science fiction and other pop genres — is expected to attract some 50,000 people to the Salt Palace Convention Center. And the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, which traditionally brings thousands of spectators, will march through The Gateway that morning.
Nick Como, communications director for the Downtown Alliance, isn't worried about the crowds.
"The city can absorb a whole lot more people than we think we can," Como said. "The city's growing up, and it's a Saturday in Salt Lake."
Como compared it to weekends in December, when there might be a Utah Jazz game, a Kurt Bestor concert and the Temple Square lights all happening on the same night.
"We're kind of getting used to it," he said, adding that Saturday TRAX schedules should be able to handle the influx of downtown visitors.
spmeans@sltrib.com
Twitter: @moviecricket Salt Lake Comic Con's FanX 2017
When • Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where • Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City
Admission • Advance prices for two-day passes are $45, $75 (Gold Pass) and $175 (VIP Pass). One-day passes are $25 for Friday, $35 for Saturday (in advance). An additional child pass, good for 8 and younger, is $5 per day.
Online • For schedules, information and tickets, go to saltlakecomiccon.com. —
Salt Lake Comic Con's FanX 2017
When • Today and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Where • Salt Palace Convention Center, 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City
Admission • Advance prices for two-day passes are $45, $75 (Gold Pass) and $175 (VIP Pass). One-day passes are $25 for Friday, $35 for Saturday (in advance). An additional child pass, good for 8 and younger, is $5 per day.
Online • For schedules, information and tickets, go to saltlakecomiccon.com.