The NCAA Men's and Women's Final Four events could return to New Orleans in the next decade.
The NCAA announced on Tuesday that New Orleans is one of seven finalists to host the championship events between 2032 and 2036. City representatives will make their cases as to why the NCAA should bring their Final Fours to New Orleans during meetings in Naples, Florida, next July. The NCAA will formally announce which cities will host the basketball championships during that five-year stretch immediately after those meetings conclude.
Denver; Houston; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Kansas; Las Vegas; and Nashville are the six other finalists to host the Men's Final Four.
Detroit, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and San Antonio are the six other finalists to host the Women's Final Four.
New Orleans has hosted the Men's Final Four six times, most recently in 2022. New Orleans has hosted the Women's Final Four three times, most recently in 2013. The Crescent City was supposed to host the event in 2020, but that year's women's basketball season was shut down one month before the tournament because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NCAA officials say there's a chance once city could host both events in the same year.
"Both committees discussed the possibility of hosting the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours at a single site on the same weekend," NCAA leaders said in a press release. "While neither committee currently supports pursuing a combined event, they have directed NCAA staff to study the feasibility of such an arrangement for 2037 or beyond. The committees will revisit the concept as the next bid cycle approaches, informed by the findings of that study."
New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno said she's excited that New Orleans is on the NCAA's hosting shortlist.
“It’s extraordinary that New Orleans has been selected as a finalist to host both the Men’s and Women’s Final Four," Moreno said in a statement. "I want to thank Jay Cicero and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation for their tremendous work in putting together such strong proposals. New Orleans has a lot of momentum right now, and we’re focused on capturing impactful opportunities that bring new investment, economic activity and excitement to our city. We have a proven track record of hosting world-class sporting events, and we’re ready to build on that success.”
