Last week was an exciting week in the state of Arizona, as our state, once again, hosted the NCAA Final Four. After hosting this amazing event in 2017, the NCAA Final Four again returned to the state of Arizona in fine fashion this year, as the state of Arizona put on a nice week of exhibits, events, parties and daily and evening options for the large number of fans and spectators, college coaches and media that ventured to the state last week. I have attended many Final Fours over the past (20) years, and this year's event was one of the most enjoyable experiences that I have personally had during a Final Four week.
In 2017, when the Final Four last showed up in Arizona, the talk among college coaches was that our state was too spread out during the week of the event. With the game being played in Glendale, the host hotels and events in Downtown Phoenix and the nightlife in Scottsdale, people were still trying to figure out our state, and whether or not it was a good fit for future Final Four events. Well, the state of Arizona bargained again for another Final Four in 2024, and did not disappoint. While this year's event was also spread out again this year, the state of Arizona was much better prepared this time around, as there were numerous events for fans, spectators, coaches and media to enjoy throughout the week. Regardless of where you ventured to in the state of Arizona, there were many options available for the large number of people that were in Arizona for the week.
The numerous parties and networking events held last week for college coaches, different exposure events held for players, as well as the many different options for the fans, all created an environment much different than I have seen over the years at other Final Four events. In cities such as San Antonio and Indianapolis, where the Final Four is often held, everything for the event is in one area of town, which does make it easier to navigate and maneuver for those attending the festivities, Arizona provided an opportunity for those involved to spread out and enjoy different aspects of our state. With multiple major events being held each night of the week, from Wednesday through Monday evening's National Championship game between National Champion UCONN and runner-up Purdue, there were almost too many options each day and night for people to attend - creating a nice environment for Arizona's version of the Final Four experience.
The basketball culture in the state of Arizona has grown a great deal over the past 20+ years, and with so many nuances and changes within Arizona basketball over the years, it has all prepared our state for where we are today. The state has loads of players, event organizers, club teams and prep programs that have brought loads of attention to our state over the years, and now events like the Final Four will look to be a consistent event in our state. It is unclear as to when we will have our next Final Four in the state, but I am sure, after our performance as a state last week during the event, it will be back sooner rather than later.
