On Selection Sunday, March 15th, sixty-five basketball are selected for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship tournament. This begins March Madness and the drive to see who makes it to the Final Four tournament at Ford Field in Detroit.
The NCAA basketball tournament means it's show time for the venues who host the games. Attendance is expected to soar to over 700,000 this year, making March Madness a mini stimulus package for the host city and a chance for venues to shine on a national stage.
The Road to the Final Four plays through 13 cities. Here's a quick venue tour of the final rounds of the NCAA tournament:
TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts
East Regional - March 26 & 28, 2009
Boston has a long and successful history as a sports town and the NCAA East Regional Championship games will, no doubt, build on Boston's reputation for being a top-notch host for big events. Inside the TD Banknorth Gardens is the Sports Museum of New England. For $6 for adults, $4 for children and $15 per family visitors can see Larry Bird's locker, a Boston Garden penalty box, lots of Red Sox memorabilia and more.
When you arrive inside the Garden you have to take a few minutes to look up at all the championship banners hanging inside this building. With the Celtics winning 17 NBA titles and the Bruins winning 5 Stanley Cups and numerous division titles, TD Banknorth Gardens is decorated with lines of banners hanging proudly above the crowd.
Remember your ID when you head to TD Banknorth Gardens. To purchase alcohol you must have a Massachusetts ID that shows you are 21 years old. If you have an out of state ID you must be 25 years old and produce another form of identification along with your license. They're tight with this rule so you are forewarned to have your drinking credentials ready.
University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona
West Regional - March 26 & 28, 2009
The University of Phoenix Stadium is designed to represent a Barrel Cactus. It's a beautiful stadium with large metal panels that catch the desert light.
The University of Phoenix Stadium in known for taking care of their disabled guests. The staff goes out of their way to accommodate guests with special needs beginning with over 2000 spaces for disabled guests to park. Speaking of parking, you will want to make sure you have a parking pass before you arrive. They're usually included in the ticket price, but if you don't have one you may end up in a far away lot, riding a bus to the entrance.
When you visit, check out the roof. The roof is retractable and translucent. Guests enjoy natural light even when the roof is closed. The strong, dark trusses on the roof look great outlined by the bright fabric cover.
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana
Midwest Regional - March 27 & 29, 2009
Lucas Oil Stadium also has a retractable roof, but theirs has a unique feature. Instead of opening end to end, the roof at Lucas Oil Stadium opens side to side. The enormous steel trusses that support the roof are 760 feet long. Stand the trusses upright-end to end-and they'd reach higher than the tallest skyscraper in Indy.
Take the time to visit the Bud Light Zone at Lucas Oil Stadium. It has an extra large window with amazing views of the stadium and downtown Indianapolis. This is the best place in the stadium to enjoy a drink.
You can park around Lucas Oil Stadium and you'll still have enough money left over for that drink in the Bud Light Zone. This area is full of good, cheap parking. It will cost you $5 to $30 to park near the stadium and if you get there early you may even be able to nab a free space. There's a complete listing of parking on Know Your Venue.
FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee
South Regional - March 27 & 29, 2009
Even though tickets for the NCAA Men's Basketball were sold out at FedEx Forum months ago you may not be totally out of the game. The FedEx Forum will host an open practice showcasing the talent of all four teams. Head to the Forum on Thursday, March 26 for an open practice all day long....and it's free.
One of the best things about the FedEx Forum is its location. Just steps from famous Beale Street, the location offers fans ample opportunities to eat, drink and be merry. If you like live music with your basketball just take a walk down Beale and your Air Jordon's will be tapping.
Inside the Forum fans will find the theme is more music than basketball. Reflecting the city's Blues heritage, visitors will enjoy murals of great musicians and entertainers like B.B. King, Johnny Cash and, of course, Elvis Presley.
Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Final Four - April 4 & 6, 2009
The Motor City is the end of the Road to the Final Four. The Championship teams will make it official here and Ford Field expects a giant basketball crowd. Ford Field can accommodate 80,000 fans for basketball games; most basketball arenas have a capacity of around 20,000.
The fun and excitement of the March Madness starts the Friday before the game. Fans can head over to Cobo Center and enjoy the NCAA Basketball Experience at Hoop City. Fans have a chance to win prizes, play ball, learn new moves and get autographs. It's $8 if you're over 12 and $6 for under 12, college students, military and seniors.
On Friday fans can catch a championship team practice. All four teams will be practicing at Ford Field beginning at 12 pm on Friday and it's free. And you won't want to miss The Big Dance. basketball the Detroit Riverfront fans can enjoy a festival full of entertainment, celebrities, games and more. The best part is that it's free. Head down near the Renaissance Center April 3rd - 5th to celebrate 'The Big Dance' of March Madness.
Over 700,000 fans are expected to attend NCAA tournament games this March. More than 70,000 people have tickets to the final games at Ford Field. Millions will watch the games on television and still more will view the games streaming on their computers. Whatever way you tune in, let March Madness be your distraction for all the craziness going on in the world. Check out a game, enjoy a venue, get in on an office pool, root for the underdog, root for the top dog, and enjoy. Reality will be waiting when the Madness stops.
KnowYourVenue.com is a one stop spot for information on stadiums, arenas, NASCAR tracks, amphitheaters, performing arts centers and more. We have parking information, seating tips, directions, easy to find list of prohibited items and venue policies, restaurants and hotels near the venue and more.
Know Your Venue.com Home Page: http://www.knowyourvenue.com/
Know Your Venue Spotlight Page featuring the NCAA Men's Division 1 Road to the Final Four Venues: http://www.knowyourvenue.com/Spotlight.aspx
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