Sweet And Low: Sugar Bowl Reps Seek To Lead City's Final Four Bid

Sugar Bowl Organizers Hope To Lead New Orleans' Bid For Future Final Four

Sugar Bowl organizers are "looking to get into the basketball business," seeking to serve as the local organizing committee in New Orleans' bid for a future Final Four, according to Ted Lewis of the NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE. However, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation (NOSF) has been "serving in that same function for almost two decades," and NOSF officials are in Indianapolis this week at "NCAA-held bid seminars for cities interested in hosting both the men's and women's Final Fours." Sugar Bowl personnel will not be IN attendance. The NOSF is "unwilling to cede its position," and NOSF Exec Dir Jay Cicero said, "The Sugar Bowl is one of the best in the country at what they do. But we're one of the best in the country at what we do, too." Lewis notes Tulane Univ. is "caught in the middle," as the New Orleans school is the local host institution in the city's attempt to land a Final Four bid and ultimately will "make the call between the Sugar Bowl and the Sports Foundation" (NOLA.com, 1/28).

HOUSTON: In Houston, Terrance Harris reports delegations from Reliant Stadium and Toyota Center today are scheduled to meet with NCAA officials in an attempt to secure the men's and women's Final Four, respectively, between 2012-2016. Reliant Stadium will host the 2011 men's event. Seven other cities are bidding to host both the men's and women's Final Fours, and hosts "will be announced in August" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/30).