April 3, 2011 – New Orleans, LA – WWL TV -
Monica Hernandez / Eyewitness News
NEW ORLEANS ― As Houston puts the finishing touches on hosting this year’s NCAA men’s Final Four, New Orleans is gearing up to take on the event next year. And local leaders are keeping a close eye on how Houston is handling one of the most watched sporting events in America.
Amongst the tens of thousands of fans in Houston for this year’s NCAA championship, New Orleans leaders are taking notes. Members of the local Final Four Organizing Committee have been on the ground since last week, hoping to learn by example as they get ready to host the massive event next year.
“We’re looking at approximately a week next year that will kind of transform the city and bring everything that that championship and everything it entails to our community,” said Rick Dickson, athletic director at Tulane University, the institution that will host next year’s Final Four at the Superdome.
He and councilman Arnie Fielkow were among those that visited Houston in the days leading up to this year’s Final Four.
“I was greatly impressed by Houston’s level of organization,” said Fielkow. ”I have no doubt that nola is going to do an incredible job next year.”
It will mark the first time college basketball’s showcase event has come to the Crescent City in nearly a decade.
Officials have been gearing up since winning the bid in 2008. And they say hosting events like last week’s Sweet 16 helps them prepare.
“That was a great kind of trial run and walk through for us,” said Dickson.
“We’ve hosted [the Final Four] before, although it gets bigger and better every year, so we’re going to do a great job, and we’ll be very prepared for it,” said Fielkow.
But there are some major changes since the last time New Orleans hosted the Final Four. There will be 25,000 more people inside the Superdome for next year’s tournament, because of new seating arrangements.
Plus, the Dome is undergoing $85 million in renovations, set to be completed in June.
“We’re going to have literally a brand new building,” said Fielkow.
And with the Super Bowl and the women’s Final Four coming to the Crescent City in 2013, officials say New Orleans has a lot to be proud of.
“It’s not just by luck that you get an NCAA Final Four,” said Fielkow. ”These are bid and desired by communities all over America, and we won them. And we won them after Katrina, and that’s a reflection of the fact that people love New Orleans.”
The host committee expects next year’s final four to bring in over 75-thousand people. Organizers are looking for up to 10-thousand volunteers to help with the games and the special events leading up to them. If you’d like to find out more, contact the new orleans final four organizing committee through tulane university.
