Final Four Sites

[Vowelguy]

2019 Tampa
2020 New Orleans
2021 San Antonio
2022 Minneapolis
2023 Dallas
2024 Cleveland

 

[Vowelguy]

Note how many times a certain school is mentioned here:

4 cities chosen as future NCAA Women’s Final Four hosts | NCAA.com

 

[nwhoopfan]

They're continuing to do a good job of getting nowhere remotely close to the West Coast for any of the Final 4 sites.

For kicks and giggles I looked at previous sites. 2012 Denver was the last time a site was west of Texas. Before that you have to go all the way back to 1999 in San Jose. The early years were pretty good--LA '84, Tacoma '88 & '89, LA '92. But nothing since '99. Kinda stinks. People do actually live all the way out here. Some even show up to sporting events. Seattle had good turnout for women's volleyball Final 4 in 2013.

 

[Vowelguy]

They're continuing to do a good job of getting nowhere remotely close to the West Coast for any of the Final 4 sites.

For kicks and giggles I looked at previous sites. 2012 Denver was the last time a site was west of Texas. Before that you have to go all the way back to 1999 in San Jose. The early years were pretty good--LA '84, Tacoma '88 & '89, LA '92. But nothing since '99. Kinda stinks. People do actually live all the way out here. Some even show up to sporting events. Seattle had good turnout for women's volleyball Final 4 in 2013.

Which west coast sites bid?

 

[Vowelguy]

Dont know if any West cities bid, but none even made the final 8.

Cleveland, Dallas among Women’s Final Four finalist bid cities for 2021-24 | NCAA.com

 

[Vowelguy]

Also, NCAA requires at least 17k seats.

That takes out Seattle.
eligible: Portland, Denver, Salt Lake, Provo (BYU), Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sacramento, SF/Oak, LA

• Portland may be in contention next round if they do well in hosting the regionals in the coming years.
• I doubt the NCAA is interested in LA, or vice versa. Ditto Provo. (for very different reasons)

 

[nwhoopfan]

Which west coast sites bid?

That's a very good question, to which I don't have the answer. Absolutely you can't be selected as a site if you don't bid.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Also, NCAA requires at least 17k seats.

That takes out Seattle.
eligible: Portland, Denver, Salt Lake, Provo (BYU), Las Vegas, Phoenix, Sacramento, SF/Oak, LA

• Portland may be in contention next round if they do well in hosting the regionals in the coming years.
• I doubt the NCAA is interested in LA, or vice versa. Ditto Provo. (for very different reasons)

LA or somewhere nearby seems to have the men's West Regional just about every year. You could be correct that the area isn't interested in hosting women's Final 4. I get kind of irritated sometimes at how LA-centric things can be on the Left Coast, but I'll whine about that later if somewhere in California can even get selected for a Final 4.

Looking at google just now it's showing just over 17K capacity for Key Arena, so Seattle should be in play. Well not currently because it's getting renovated, but since bids are now thru '24 it will be done well before the next cycle of bids is awarded.


edited--projected 18,600 capacity for Key Arena after renovation is completed

 

[nwhoopfan]

I'm kinda surprised that Tacoma was a host in the late 80's, but Tacoma Dome has a capacity of 23,000 so there's another option in Washington. Lots of concerts there, Sonics played there for a year or two the last time Key Arena was being refurbished. Hosts high school football and basketball State playoffs every year.

 

[triaddukefan]

I have no idea why Charlotte doesn't bid for this. It would be a great location (no real bias here) The arena location right downtown.... the convention center a few blocks from the arena. Thousands of hotel rooms, hundreds of restaurants, within walking distance.... the Light Rail Stop right at the doorstep of the arena

 

[southie]

Phoenix would make a great host site. They host bowl games, Super Bowls, NCAA Men's Final Fours, etc.

And, they have a WNBA team with local support. So, surprised they have never hosted a Women's Final Four.

 

[MSGRET]

Las Vegas put in a bid but didn't make the final cut. This town currently has 4 separate Conference Championships for basketball, The Mountain West, PAC 12, Big West, and the WAC. Yet the NCAA doesn't consider Las Vegas because of the casinos. Guess if they continue that, there most likely be only a few States that won't have sports betting by 2025.

 

[triaddukefan]

I was surprised to see San Antonio on the list, I figured the NCAA didnt want to return to a huge dome for the final 4.... and the NBA Arena isn't close to the the Riverwalk, hotels, convention center. Its gonna be interesting to see how they configure the seating.

 

[Vowelguy]

Thing to keep in mind is good ol Opportunity Cost from Econ 101.

Any arena that hosts the F4, has be available for 4 days when it could be hosting other money-making events. NYC & LA arenas are busy almost year-round. They're not going to sit empty for 2 nights and get mediocre revenue from the womens' final 4. Arenas get concession money, and I presume (?) a portion of the gate. I'm quite confident that WF4 ticket prices and alcohol&food consumption are much lower than they are for an NBA game or major concert.

Arenas in non mega cities like Cleveland & Minneapolis are likely not full year round, so this is a good option for them.

Also some cities may already have booked conventions which take up the hotel rooms.

And the committee will want cities that can not only put on a good show, support the event, and has enough reasonably-priced hotel rooms.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I was surprised to see San Antonio on the list, I figured the NCAA didnt want to return to a huge dome for the final 4.... and the NBA Arena isn't close to the the Riverwalk, hotels, convention center. Its gonna be interesting to see how they configure the seating.

I think they used about half the arena for the women.

 

[MSGRET]

Thing to keep in mind is good ol Opportunity Cost from Econ 101.

Any arena that hosts the F4, has be available for 4 days when it could be hosting other money-making events. NYC & LA arenas are busy almost year-round. They're not going to sit empty for 2 nights and get mediocre revenue from the womens' final 4. Arenas get concession money, and I presume (?) a portion of the gate. I'm quite confident that WF4 ticket prices and alcohol&food consumption are much lower than they are for an NBA game or major concert.

Arenas in non mega cities like Cleveland & Minneapolis are likely not full year round, so this is a good option for them.

Also some cities may already have booked conventions which take up the hotel rooms.

And the committee will want cities that can not only put on a good show, support the event, and has enough reasonably-priced hotel rooms.

If they want a GOOD show then they should have picked Las Vegas.

 

[Kevin G]

Would love to see Boston host.... somewhere where I don't have to fly to go to

 

[triaddukefan]

Would love to see Boston host....

 

[triaddukefan]

Thing to keep in mind is good ol Opportunity Cost from Econ 101.

Any arena that hosts the F4, has be available for 4 days when it could be hosting other money-making events. NYC & LA arenas are busy almost year-round. They're not going to sit empty for 2 nights and get mediocre revenue from the womens' final 4. Arenas get concession money, and I presume (?) a portion of the gate. I'm quite confident that WF4 ticket prices and alcohol&food consumption are much lower than they are for an NBA game or major concert.

Arenas in non mega cities like Cleveland & Minneapolis are likely not full year round, so this is a good option for them.

Also some cities may already have booked conventions which take up the hotel rooms.

And the committee will want cities that can not only put on a good show, support the event, and has enough reasonably-priced hotel rooms.

Another thing.... I was reading through some old articles last night.. .. and I know that the NCAA likes to have a city with a large convention hotel that can hold all or most of the attendees. I read that Orlando bid for the 2001, 2002 Final 4.... but didnt have a large hotel at the time downtown. Not sure if they do now.

If I were the NCAA, I wouldnt even want to go to a city where the event would be "swallowed up"... places like NYC, DC, Chicago, Miami, LA, SF... not that any of those cities would even bid for the Final 4. I was happy that a smaller place like Columbus got it.... I was hoping that Kansas City would make the cut this time.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I have no idea why Charlotte doesn't bid for this. It would be a great location (no real bias here) The arena location right downtown.... the convention center a few blocks from the arena. Thousands of hotel rooms, hundreds of restaurants, within walking distance.... the Light Rail Stop right at the doorstep of the arena

Why didn't you say Greensboro? I'd love the Final Four to be held in Columbia.

 

[Vowelguy]

I'd love the Final Four to be held in Columbia.

I imagine the committee wants to avoid playing the title on the home floor of a major team. Charlotte or Atlanta would seem like your best hope.

 

[cockhrnleghrn]

I imagine the committee wants to avoid playing the title on the home floor of a major team. Charlotte or Atlanta would seem like your best hope.

Wasn't the Final Four in Ohio State's home arena this year?

 

[triaddukefan]

Wasn't the Final Four in Ohio State's home arena this year?

It was at Nationwide Arena... the hope of the NHL Blue Jackets....... OSU plays at an on-campus arena.

 

[triaddukefan]

Why didn't you say Greensboro? I'd love the Final Four to be held in Columbia.

Well it would be nice, but I'm realistic About 15-20 years ago the Greensboro people floated the idea of bidding for a Final 4.... not sure how far they got with that. The arena is big enough... and honestly... if you can hold a ACC Men's Tournament.... you can hold a women's final 4. But the city isnt a major market, doesnt have the name recognition, hotel space.... plus its too spread out. Then again... the US Figure Skating Championships have been held here twice in the past 8 years.

 

[southie]

I imagine the committee wants to avoid playing the title on the home floor of a major team. Charlotte or Atlanta would seem like your best hope.

Has Atlanta hosted a women's Final Four since 2003? Odd as they are a host site for so many NCAA and SEC championship events. Being a major airport is a huge reason.