The Armory has a capacity of 8,000 and is close to the tournament site at U.S. Bank Stadiumgetty images
The free three-day music festival for the NCAA men's basketball Final Four in April will be at the Minneapolis Armory, a "smaller venue than those in other recent host cities where tens of thousands of fans filled outdoor parks for big-name acts," according to Rochelle Olson of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The capacity of the Armory, which is "close to the tournament site at U.S. Bank Stadium, is 8,000." In San Antonio during the '18 Final Four, Minneapolis Final Four organizers said that they expected to "put on the sort of outdoor music festival that has become a standard for the final weekend" of the NCAA Tournament. Local Organizing Committee President & CEO Kate Mortenson said that the entire tournament will be "unlike any other and include for the first time a four-day tailgating party, to be held on Nicollet Mall." Organizers said that Unilever will "sponsor the Final Four's annual 'Legacy' project that includes installing a new basketball court, painting inspiring wall murals, installing new computers and sprucing up the teen room at North Commons." Other events will include the "activity-oriented Fan Fest for youngsters at the Minneapolis Convention Center on April 5-8; a free open house at U.S. Bank Stadium for team practices; an All-Star Game on April 5; and the 'Final Four Dribble'" youth event on April 7 (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/17).
THE PLACE TO BE: In St. Paul, John Shipley notes Minneapolis will be "NCAA title townfor the next few years, evidence that U.S. Bank Stadium is dramatically changing the sporting landscape in the Twin Cities." After this year's Final Four, the stadium next spring will play "host to the NCAA wrestling tournament." Also on deck: a "men’s basketball regional (Sweet 16 and Elite Eight) at Target Center" in '21, and the "women’s basketball Final Four at the same venue" in '22. NCAA VP/Men's Basketball Dan Gavitt said the seating capacity at U.S. Bank Stadium for the Final Four will be "somewhere north of 72,000" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/17).
