The Final Four Effect

The roar of fans, the steady beat you can feel from head to toe, and the flashing lights.
This may not be a concert but a different kind of music made by a basketball game.
Earlier this month, on April 6th, Arizona hosted four college basketball teams for the Final Four March Madness event in the State Farm Stadium.
The Final Four is the semifinals and finals of the NCAA National Championship tournament.
The biggest concern wasn’t not selling enough tickets, but “how to manage crowds throughout the week – in this case – and make sure people have a good experience,” said Todd Sanders, CEO of Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout the NCAA tournament, court storming had been a problem that was not being taken seriously.
Cases have even gone as extreme as “people who have been caught and injured in storms continue to urge power brokers in the college game to take action,” ESPN Reporter William Weinbaum said.
In other scenarios, teams have been facing disrespect from not only opposing teams but their fans too. In the end, the players must learn to let the hate roll off their backs.
“Oftentimes, athletes and teams find a way to manufacture whatever sort of disrespect element they want to give the world,” Yahoo Sports reporter Jason Fitz said.
Teams all over the tournament dealt with this problem including the four teams that came to Arizona. UConn, Alabama, NC State, and Purdue all made it to the semi-finals.
In the end, it was UConn and Purdue that ended up on top, securing their spots in the championship.
“Tens of thousands of people from out of state will travel to Arizona for the weekend’s event,” Sports Reporter Tyler Bednar said.
This isn’t the first time Arizona has hosted the Final Four. As seen in previous years, with all the new incoming traffic, there will be positives and negatives that come with the rush.
“The last time Glendale hosted the Final Four in 2017, Arizona saw a revenue surge of $234.5 million, and the games themselves saw a total in-person attendance of 153,780 people,” Joe Dukownik, a Courthouse News Service Reporter wrote.
This greatly boosts Arizona’s economy in various ways including increasing job opportunities, expanding Glendale’s annual growth, and boosting small businesses.
This year, Arizona is estimated to gain 324.5 million dollars.
Festivities to celebrate the Final Four that took place throughout the week leading up to the games also helped Arizona’s revenue.
Celebrations such as “Fan Fests,” “Music Festivals,” and “Tailgates,” were available for fans to participate in, the NCAA Final Four Official Website wrote.
All in all, a bright opportunity allowed Arizona to be put in the spotlight. Whether you’re a big sports fan or you’ve never heard of March Madness, these games brought fun opportunities for people all over the country.