Just four years ago, Arizona was up for the Final Four
On Monday, it was announced Phoenix would receive its second Final Four in less than a decade, as they will host the 2024 Final Four.
“We were all in a small room, we were watching it on Twitter, just like everyone else. and just pure and utter excitement and joy,” Phoenix Local Organizing Committee co-chair Debbie Johnson said.
According to Arizona State’s W.P. Carey school of Business, the 2017 Final Four made a projected $324.5 million in economic impact. The events spanned from events in cities that included Glendale, Phoenix and Tempe. Johnson said the plan is to incorporate the entire Greater Phoenix Area.
“I think we did that in 2017 and we brought the whole Valley together,” Johnson said. “I think we knew that it was necessary moving forward as well. The good news is the NCAA saw us bring everybody together and saw all the participants, we didn’t leave anyone out.”
Phoenix was one of four hosts announced on Monday:
2023 – Houston
2024 – Phoenix
2025 – San Antonio
2026 – Indianapolis
Final Fours in the West were a rarity, but Phoenix could have a started a trend in 2017 with three of the four selections on Monday being in the region.
“I give credit to the NCAA for recognizing the importance of the West,” Johnson said. “We have this western hospitality too that I think maybe they hadn’t experienced and now they’re seeing what we can do. We are every bit as welcoming as every other destination, and sometimes even more so.”
“I think we showed what we can do, and that’s why we’re excited.”
Jordan Hamm
