A slam-dunk for Tulane, New Orleans
Tulane is host institution for the NCAA Final Four championship.
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| Wearing their black “Final Four” caps, executive committee members who worked successfully to bring the 2012 Final Four to New Orleans applaud Tulane athletics director Rick Dickson, at the podium, who led the Local Organizing Committee. (Photo by Sally Asher) |
"When we come together, we can do great things," said Tulane athletics director Rick Dickson. The occasion for his comment was the announcement that New Orleans had been named host city for NCAA's 2012 men's basketball Final Four tournament. Dickson represented Tulane in leading a broad-based coalition of city leaders that made the bid for the host city designation.
That was four years ago, and now, with the event nearly at hand, organizers are shifting into high gear.
"The Final Four is 15 percent basketball and 85 percent all the other stuff that goes along with it," says Vince Granito, Tulane associate director of athletics and one of three co-directors managing the event.
Among the "other stuff" that will be swirling around the three basketball games are a three-day "Big Dance" music concert, a four day "Bracket Town" fan festival, a street dribble for 3,000 kids and myriad possibilities for community service.
"We have a great opportunity," says Granito, "for the citizens of New Orleans and the region to enjoy the city, as well as a great opportunity to get involved in the Final Four through community service projects or volunteering to help Final Four events." |
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