Louisville and Lexington police say they will be out in force Saturday night, prepared to close down streets and make arrests if fan revelry turns riotous over the NCAA Final Four showdown between Kentucky's biggest in-state rivals.
About 40 law enforcement officers will be stationed around the University of Louisville's Belknap campus, said Kenny Brown, assistant chief of university police. That's about 10 times as many as on a typical Saturday.
"We want to have a strong presence, because we want our students to celebrate in a safe, secure area," Brown said.
And in downtown Louisville, police will restrict parking along portions of Broadway - and they say they are prepared to divert traffic if public safety is at risk, according to a news release by Chief Steve Conrad.
Police will be paying extra attention to the western portions of Broadway, as well as the entertainment districts in the Highlands area, where traffic can also be slowed after major events, said Maj. J.T. Smith, commander of LMPD's Special Operations Division.
"What we want to do is make sure traffic is not gridlocked," Smith said, adding that police want to allow people celebrate but also be "orderly."
Lexington is planning a similarly strong presence, with extra officers from the city, county sheriff and campus on duty, particularly in downtown, said Sherelle Roberts, a spokeswoman for the Lexington Division of Police.
The game, to be played in New Orleans, is scheduled to begin at 6:09 p.m. And officials say they want to curtail the violence that has at times marred past NCAA celebrations.
In Louisville, police are prepared to close Cardinal Boulevard between Third and Fourth streets near the northwestern part of campus, Brown said. An estimated 400 students and fans poured onto that block last weekend after the U of L men's basketball team defeated the University of Florida for its first Final Four berth since 2005.
The throng of cheering students and fans after the game prompted police to temporarily close Cardinal between Third and Fourth, although no problems were reported, Brown said.
Closing the block "makes it safer for the pedestrian traffic moving in and out of there," he said.
Michael Mardis, dean of students at U of L, said he expects students to behave Saturday - and for Monday night's national championship game, should the Cardinals win.
"We have great students, and we haven't seen those kinds of problems," Mardis said.
U of L sophomore James Howard, 20, was one of those last weekend who took to the block in front of Cardinal Towne to join the hundreds celebrating the Cardinals' victory over Florida.
"Come down here next week for UK," Howard said that night. "It's going to be even better."
That same night, cars temporarily flooded the western blocks of Broadway, reminiscent to "cruising" around the Kentucky Derby, authorities reported.
So in anticipation of possible Saturday celebrations, police will keep Broadway open but restrict parking from Ninth to 34th streets beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday and ending 7 a.m. Sunday, and then again from 5 p.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday.
There will also be no parking on Ninth Street from Broadway to Market Street Saturday.
Shawnee and Chickasaw parks will remain open, unless police identify a safety risk.
Conrad said Louisville Metro Police officers will be on site make sure safety is maintained and prevent inconvenience to those living within the community or who are visiting the city.
Details of the plan were still being decided Tuesday, but extra officers will be on hand, Smith said.
In Lexington, law enforcement agencies are coordinating plans to prevent the kind of destruction that followed the Wildcats national championship in 1998, when police dealt with destroyed property, fires and thrown objects, Roberts said.
On Sunday, when UK earned a spot in the Final Four, couches were reportedly set ablaze in Lexington.
"Basically, we want people to have fun, and we know historically people want to get out and celebrate," Roberts said. "But we're reminding people that destruction of property or putting themselves in danger will not be tolerated."
If those incidents happen, arrests will be made, she said.
Those plans would carry on to Monday should the Wildcats win Saturday, although adjustments may be made depending on how events transpire after the U of L game, she said.
UK President Eli Capilouto couldn't be reached for comment, but in a statement expressed thanks to Lexington for helping with the safety plans.
"Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of our students and our community," Capilouto said. "As part of that effort, we expect our students to enjoy this special time in a responsible and positive way."