St. Patty’s day plus March Madness equals Perfect Storm

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — St. Patrick’s Day is a party event by itself, but when you combine it with March Madness, you’ve got the perfect storm.

Ladies and lads in downtown Wilmington were decked out in green and drinking beer. Bars were packed with folks celebrating both St. Patrick’s Day and the kickoff of March Madness.

“You got a free night away from the children and you’ve got a free game you can sit down and watch,” says Ely Moore, who is celebrating at Hell’s Kitchen. “You’ve got drinks, good friends. It’s all good.”

Chris Enyart was celebrating at Slainte with a few friends. She says that St. Patrick’s Day and the start of March Madness are a great excuse for people to forget about their worries and everything negative going on and just have a good time with friends and family.

“There’s a lot going on in the whole world right now, and even though we’re not in Japan, we’re all feeling it, and I think they need a good
relief,” says Enyart. “I think people are going to be out tonight.”

But, with so many people out and most of them drinking, people will need a safe ride home. Benny Nima, owner of Pyramids Cabs, says he expects a pretty rowdy night.

“I would rate this, like if New Years was one hundred percent, tonight would be about eighty percent,” says Nima.

Though he is not expecting quite as busy of a night as New Year’s, Nima says he thinks there will still be a shortage of cabs downtown.

“There will be so many people and not enough cabbies in downtown,” says Nima. “I just advise everyone to give us some time so we can pick up everybody and take them home safely.”

Wilmington police say they are prepared for the St. Patrick’s Day and March Madness crowds, and will have eight officers out on the streets. They say they’ll be working with the Wilmington Fire Department to enforce overcrowding in the bars.