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WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS – LET’S SHOW THEM HOW WE CELEBRATE! FOUR ON THE FLOOR - AND MORE March Madness® shifts into high gear as the NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship returns to the Crescent City for the first time since 2003. Few cities are more closely associated with the championship and few venues have hosted more exciting Final Four® action than the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Remember freshman Michael Jordan’s game-winning shot that lifted North Carolina over Georgetown in 1982 or the last-second basket by Keith Smart to propel Indiana over Syracuse in 1987? In just a few days, more than 75,000 fans will rock the Superdome, and while we expect the action on the court to once again sizzle, we are equally excited about the many events that are taking place throughout downtown New Orleans during the next week. You probably know about The Big Dance®, the free, three-day concert series that is being held at Woldenberg Park. But there are a lot of other ways to catch Final Four fever and join in the fun. One of the best ways to participate in the Final Four is to come to Bracket Town® refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero™ the ultimate Final Four fan fest that will buzz with activity across 300,000 square feet of the Morial Convention Center. There will be plenty of family-friendly activities encompassing just about every imaginable fun thing you can do with basketballs and hoops. There also will be autograph sessions with legendary coaches and famous college players, as well as youth clinics. Speaking of youth, we’re anticipating having as many as 3,000 of them dribbling basketballs through downtown New Orleans. The Final Four Dribble presented by the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award may get a little crazy, with all those kids and all those basketballs, but it’s the per perfect parade for a city that throws Mardi Gras every year. Along with the excitement of championship basketball and stellar fanfocused entertainment, the Final Four is also committed to the community development of its host cities. Beyond the estimated $150 million impact of the championship on the community, this year there is an array of projects that will benefit New Orleans and impact its citizens long after the final buzzer. For instance, during Final Four week, the NCAA is teaming up with Samaritan’s Feet and Feed the Hungry to distribute shoes and food boxes to selected kids and families in need. The NCAA also is partner partnering with the Louisiana Organizing Committee on a program to refurbish basketball courts and youth facilities during the four days leading up to the championship series. Another partnership, this one with the Grow Dat Youth Farm, will coordinate a renovation and cleanup of the Grow Dat gardens in City Park. The values of education, sports and community involvement will be the focus of the NCAA Final Four Youth Day, when approximately 400 middle-school aged students will engage in programs addressing healthy living, character development, leadership and diversity. To be sure, there’s a lot more going on, and you can find out about all of it as you read through this guide. Finally, the Louisiana Organizing Committee would like to acknowledge the hard work of all participating members who made the 2012 Final Four possible. Members of the committee include representatives from the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, City of New Orleans, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Hornets, New Or Orleans Saints, Mercedes-Benz Superdome and our host institution, Tulane University. Back in 2007, only a couple years after Hurricane Katrina’s devastating blow to the area, and at a time when the city of New Orleans was still deep into its recovery, members of the above organizations united to present to the NCAA a winning vision of how the city would be ready to host an event with the size and scope of the Final Four. That vision is now poised to become reality. So, now then, let’s let the good times roll (and the basketballs bounce)! – 2012 Final Four Louisiana Organizing Committee
DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FAN GATHERING RESTAURANTS
All times are subject to change; all times are local, Central time. All events are open to the public.
Restaurants in New Orleans will adopt fans from each of the Final FourÂŽ teams during the championship week. Make these establishments your headquarters to meet old friends, new friends and fellow alumni. These establishments will be prime gathering locations throughout the week.
FRIDAY, MARCH 30 Noon-6:30 p.m. Final Four FridayÂŽ FREE at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome /PPO Q N t 5FBN 1SBDUJDFT See the 2012 NCAA Final Four teams in action one last time before the big games take place. Final Four head coach interviews and other local entertainment will be sure to add to the excitement. Fans in attendance will be randomly selected to win national semifinal and championship game tickets throughout the day! Free t-shirts to the first 10,000 people attending the game, as well as lots of fun and prizes.
East Regional Champion Restaurant Poppy’s Time Out Sports Bar & Grill Spanish Plaza Open 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
Q N t 3FFTF TÂŽ College All-Star Game
The Reese’s College All-Star Game features two teams comprised of the top collegiate senior student-athletes in the country. For the fifth year, the game will be played in the Final Four venue and will provide Louisiana residents and other NCAA basketball fans the chance to see many of the best college basketball players perform in action for free! Free t-shirts to the first 10,000 people attending the game, as well as lots of fun and prizes!
Midwest Regional Champion Restaurant The Crazy Lobster Bar & Grill Spanish Plaza Open 7 days a week at 11 a.m. South Regional Champion Restaurant Huck Finn’s CafÊ 135 Decatur Street Open Mon-Thurs & Sun at 8 a.m. Open Fri-Sat at 8 a.m. Breakfast Mon-Sat 8 a.m.- 11:30 a.m., Sun 8 a.m. – noon West Regional Champion Restaurant Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant 701 Tchoupitoulas Street Open Mon – Fri at 11 a.m., Sat–Sun at 10 a.m. Note: Final Four Fan Gathering Restaurants are willing to extend the hours of operation for games ending late. Fans should have no problem returning to their prospective restaurant March 31 and April 2.
Noon-8 p.m.
Bracket TownŽ refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero™
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall H-J The Ultimate Final Four Fan Fest! Offering more than 300,000 square feet of family-friendly activities, you won’t want to miss out on your chance to play! Tickets as low as $6 for youth and $10 for adults.
4-10 p.m.
AT&T Block Party The Big DanceŽ Concert Series FREE at Woldenberg Park featuring KISS The Big Dance is a free three-day concert series open to music fans in celebration of the NCAA Men’s Final Four. In addition to the music, there will be plenty of food and activities to keep you entertained. See Schedule of Events, 6
iHOOPS iHoops is the official youth basketball organization of the NCAA and NBA, dedicated to student-athlete development on and off the court. Whether you are a player, coach, parent or official, iHoops.com will provide you with the resources to take your game to the next level.
2013 TICKET INFORMATION NCAAŽ MEN’S BASKETBALL FANS, Visit NCAA.com/mbbtickets and apply for tickets to the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four, April 6 and 8 in Atlanta. See you there!
SATURDAY, MARCH 31 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero
Bracket Town® refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero™
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall H-J The Ultimate Final Four Fan Fest! Offering more than 300,000 square feet of family-friendly activities, you won’t want to miss out on your chance to play! Tickets as low as $6 for youth and $10 for adults.
11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Coca-Cola Zero Countdown The Big Dance® Concert Series featuring THE BLACK ACK KEYS FREE at Woldenberg Park
The Big Dance is a free three-day concert series open to music fans in celebration of the NCAA Men’s Final Four. In addition to the music, there will be plenty of food and activities to keep you entertained.
SUNDAY, APRIL 1 Noon-8 p.m.
12:30-2:30 p.m.
Legends Game Presented by Dove® Men+Care®
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall J Dove Men+Care presents the first Legends Game in Buick Arena at Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero. This star-studded event with a special appear appearance by Shaquille O’Neal will celebrate those basketball legends who paved the way for what college basketball is today.
1-4:30 p.m.
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall H-J The Ultimate Final Four Fan Fest! Offering more than 300,000 square feet of family-friendly activities, you won’t want to miss out on your chance to play! Tickets as low as $6 for youth and $10 for adults.
3-10 p.m.
Tip-Off Tailgate™ presented by Infiniti® FREE at Champions Square
Capital One JamFest, The Big Dance® Concert Series featuring JIMMY BUFFETT FREE at Woldenberg Park
The Big Dance is a free three-day concert series open to music fans in celebration of the NCAA Men’s Final Four. In addition to the music, there will be plenty of food and activities to keep you entertained.
Tip-Off Tailgate presented by Infiniti is a can’t-miss pregame celebration featuring live entertainment on the Capital One Stage, and all of your favorite tailgate fare.
5:09 p.m.
Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero
National Semifinals
MONDAY, APRIL 2
Sold out. Mercedes-Benz Superdome Tipoff is approximately 5:09 p.m. The second semifinal game will take place approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. (Gates open at 3 p.m.)
Noon-7 p.m.
Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall H-J The Ultimate Final Four Fan Fest! Offering more than 300,000 square feet of family-friendly activities, you won’t want to miss out on your chance to play! Tickets as low as $6 for youth and $10 for adults.
The Big Dance Concert Series
4:30-7:30 p.m.
Tip-Off Tailgate presented by Infiniti FREE at Champions Square
Tip-Off Tailgate presented by Infiniti is a can’t-miss pregame celebration featuring live entertainment on the Capital One Stage, and all of your favorite tailgate fare.
8:23 p.m.
National Championship
Sold out. Mercedes-Benz Superdome Tipoff is approximately 8:23 p.m. (Gates open at 6 p.m.) This is the game everyone has waited for. The top two teams in the nation will play for the most coveted title in intercollegiate sport — National Champion!
NCAA, Final Four, Bracket Town and Tip-Off Tailgate are trademarks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. All other licenses or trademarks are property of their respective holders.