Cardinals Stadium Slated for 2009 March Madness Action

Cardinals Stadium Slated for 2009 March Madness Action
By The Business Journal


A big-time money event is coming to the Arizona Cardinals' new stadium in Glendale, state officials are saying, as a bit of March Madness is headed this way.

The Business Journal has learned that in March 2009 the new stadium will host the NCAA Men's College Basketball Regional Tournament.

"We like to believe that it is a precursor to hosting a men's Final Four in 2012," Ted Ferris, president and chief executive of the Arizona Sports Authority told the Phoenix Business Journal Wednesday. "That's the first year that's available, as the NCAA has awarded the Men's Final Four all the way out to 2011."

In terms of hotel stays, "this is very similar to a Super Bowl, where they (teams) put in a four night minimum on a hotel stay at hotels designated for teams and alumni," added Ferris.

Four teams will come here for the event and their fans will need to book hotel rooms, too.

And starting in 2009, the NCAA will go to a center-field configuration. "Instead of pushing the court to one end of the stadium, where you seat 40,000 to 50,000 people, this will place the court in the middle of the stadium with floor chairs around it and with the permanent seats in the stadium, you're able to sit up to 80,000 people," said Ferris.

Ferris said this event could carry a Super Bowl-level economic impact of $300 million to $400 million.

Also, US Airways Center in Phoenix will host the NCAA Men's College Basketball Regionals on March 27-29, 2008.

For more: www.az-tsa.com or www.ncaasports.com

To search for homes Near the new stadium, go to:

http://www.historiccentralphoenix.com

Historic Phoenix Homes Information: Cardinals Stadium Slated for 2009 March Madness Action