San Antonio is one of 10 sites in contention for Final Fours to be held from '23-26Getty Images
Despite San Antonio's "status as a four-time host of the Final Four," the city "will have a hard time getting another one," according to Bachman & Diamond of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. The Alamodome "trails a new class of super-stadiums that have become the darlings of the nation’s biggest rotating-site sporting events." The bid process for future sites is "happening now, which means this Final Four could determine the fate of a beloved NCAA tournament site." NCAA Senior VP/College Basketball Dan Gavitt said that San Antonio is "one of 10 sites in contention for Final Fours" to be held from '23-26, and the "decisions will be made in July." Among the Final Four sites for '19-22, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Indianapolis have stadiums "built in the past decade," and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome underwent more than $350M in renovations following Hurricane Katrina that "essentially rebuilt it." Alamodome GM Nick Langella noted that the venue "recently completed" a $60M renovation. The stadium also has "widened concourses, added four new video boards and upgraded food options and Wi-Fi." Langella: "A lot is riding on this, this year. I think it’s gone extremely well for us.” He added that Saturday’s national semifinals crowd of 68,257 "flowed well into the building and through the stadium’s expanded concessions areas" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/3).
LADY LIKE: In Columbus, Marla Matzer Rosa notes the city "emerged a winner after hosting its first Women's Final Four." TV analysts and coaches "praised the city during the broadcast, on social media and during interviews." Greater Columbus Sports Commission Exec Dir Linda Logan said that she "heard a constant stream of positive feedback." NCAA VP/Women's Basketball Lynn Holzman also "offered the city high praise" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 4/3).
