Sacramento a finalist to host NCAA Women’s Final Four
NCAA scouts were in Sacramento on Wednesday touring the city as a potential host for the women’s Final Four tournament between 2027 and 2031. Sacramento is one of the seven finalists for the tournament. If awarded to Sacramento, the NCAA Women’s Final Four would be the biggest tournament of its kind to be held in the city.The scouts examined the arena as well as the neighboring bars, restaurants and hotels.”Everything from what the competition venue experience would be like for our four teams. We have representatives that tour hotels. We also have a lot of events that take place during that weekend. We scope out a lot of those venue opportunities,” said Lynn Holzman, the NCAA vice president for women’s basketball. NCAA representatives say they’re also looking at what the city has to offer college athletes.” We’re growing. Everything’s getting revitalized down here like myself; you got tigers; you got the aviary. All these great places out here to eat, drink have fun before and after the game,” said Sean Hook, owner of the downtown Beach Hut Deli.Hook opened his location in the K Street district just after the pandemic.”COVID kind of put a little strain on things but we’ve had some really good turnout from events at the Golden 1 Center for sure,” Hook said.Officials with Visit Sacramento, the city’s tourism bureau, said the tournament will be good for not just downtown businesses, but all the businesses in the region.”It’s millions of dollars. It’s not just downtown — it will fill hotels across the region. You’re not eating all your meals inside the venue, you’re eating at hotels, restaurants and after the game, you’re going out to bars,” said Mike Testa with Visit Sacramento. Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena), Dallas (American Airlines Center), Indianapolis (Gainbridge Fieldhouse), Portland, Oregon (Moda Center), San Antonio (Alamodome) and Tampa, Florida (Amalie Arena) are also on the list of cities that could host the tournament.The results will be announced in November.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
NCAA scouts were in Sacramento on Wednesday touring the city as a potential host for the women’s Final Four tournament between 2027 and 2031.
Sacramento is one of the seven finalists for the tournament.
If awarded to Sacramento, the NCAA Women’s Final Four would be the biggest tournament of its kind to be held in the city.
The scouts examined the arena as well as the neighboring bars, restaurants and hotels.
“Everything from what the competition venue experience would be like for our four teams. We have representatives that tour hotels. We also have a lot of events that take place during that weekend. We scope out a lot of those venue opportunities,” said Lynn Holzman, the NCAA vice president for women’s basketball.
NCAA representatives say they’re also looking at what the city has to offer college athletes.
“We’re growing. Everything’s getting revitalized down here like myself; you got tigers; you got the aviary. All these great places out here to eat, drink have fun before and after the game,” said Sean Hook, owner of the downtown Beach Hut Deli.
Hook opened his location in the K Street district just after the pandemic.
“COVID kind of put a little strain on things but we’ve had some really good turnout from events at the Golden 1 Center for sure,” Hook said.
Officials with Visit Sacramento, the city’s tourism bureau, said the tournament will be good for not just downtown businesses, but all the businesses in the region.
“It’s millions of dollars. It’s not just downtown — it will fill hotels across the region. You’re not eating all your meals inside the venue, you’re eating at hotels, restaurants and after the game, you’re going out to bars,” said Mike Testa with Visit Sacramento.
Columbus, Ohio (Nationwide Arena), Dallas (American Airlines Center), Indianapolis (Gainbridge Fieldhouse), Portland, Oregon (Moda Center), San Antonio (Alamodome) and Tampa, Florida (Amalie Arena) are also on the list of cities that could host the tournament.
The results will be announced in November.