American Idol will be in Bowling Green Friday.

After much anticipation, the rumors became fact today. As those with American Idol posted on their webpage that the Bowling Green audtions will take place Friday in Fountain Square Park starting around 9 AM.

The Bowling Green Convention and Visitor's Bureau, along with the downtown merchants, are preparing for the "Idol" bus to roll into town.

"We're just excited to be able to showcase the heart of town right here in Downtown Bowling Green. When they mentioned they wanted outdoor space, they didn't want their typical stadium or amphitheater look. They wanted outdoor space, kind of 'Small Town USA'. And so right here in Downtown Bowling Green was immediately the first thought," says Marissa Butler with the Bowling Green Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

Fountain square will be roped off from parking starting at 2 AM Friday morning for the "Idol" auditions to start.

A mix of security will be on sight to make sure the line goes smoothly.

"We are certainly working with the city's police department, hiring some off duty security as well and 'American Idol' is bringing a few security people," says Butler, "We're hoping the audition line can kind of weave in and out of the park itself because there's a lot of trees that provide a lot of great shade."

The tour was in Casper, Wyoming last week.

Radio DJ Tom McCarthy says their line moved faster than expected.

"Once you got in line things moved very quickly. Once they got things going they were very polite and very kind."

Mccarthy says he heard around a half dozen people made it through to the next round in Casper.

"The next phase is to go and audition again in front of the producers and depending on how well that goes, I believe the next phase would be to audition in front of the judges," McCarthy says.

Mccarthy says he estimates that nearly a thousand people show up, which will make for a pretty packed fountain square.

"There's a lot of buzz with it so we know there's going to be a lot more people in the square on that day," says Theresa Shea, President of the Fountain Square Business Assoc.

We are being told if it rains, the auditions will be moved from Fountain Square to the Capitol Arts Building.