The NCAA men's basketball Final Four is coming to Arizona for the first time in 2017.
The announcement came Friday from the NCAA, which selected Phoenix as the host city in 2017, San Antonio in 2018, Minneapolis in 2019 and Atlanta iin 2020. The games will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.
The national semifinals are set for Saturday, April 1, 2017, with the championship game on Monday, April 3. It will be the first Final Four to be played west of the state of Texas since Seattle hosted the event in 1995.
It's official! The 2017 @NCAA Final Four will be hosted at @UOPXStadium in Glendale, AZ! #OneShiningPHX pic.twitter.com/dQKoBI5U24
— UOPX Stadium (@UOPXStadium) November 14, 2014
The Valley’s bid was a collaborative effort, with Arizona State University as the host institution and local municipalities, sports organizations and tourism bureaus working together under one banner.
"This is Phoenix’s time to shine," said Ray Anderson, ASU vice president for athletics. "We thank all the partners who made this a true community effort. We are grateful for the privilege of hosting this iconic event and promise to provide an unforgettable experience for the NCAA, student-athletes, alumni and fans."
North Texas projected $276 million in economic impact from hosting the 2014 Final Four.
