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News Release
Verizon Center SELECTED AS HOST FOR
THE EAST REGIONAL ROUND OF
THE 2006 NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
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Indianapolis, IN - The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee
has selected a group of finalist cities in the first step of a two-part
process to choose hosts for the Final Four beginning in 2008. The
committee also has chosen the sites for the first/second and regional
rounds of the 2006 championship and the opening-round beginning
in 2004.
“We are delighted to be chosen as the host for this spectacular
collegiate event,” stated Abe Pollin, Chairman of Washington
Sports & Entertainment. “Once again we’ll bring
the excitement of March Madness straight to the nation’s capital.”
The committee chose six sites to compete for the right to host
the Final Four in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The committees will
evaluate the six cities this winter and spring, and will name the
sites in late June.
"We are pleased with the quality and enthusiasm of the cities
and with their commitment to host the Final Four," said Jim
Livengood, chair of the men's committee and director of athletics
at the University of Arizona.
For the Final Four, the competition venue must have a minimum
of 40,000 seats and the city must have 8,500 first-class hotel rooms
for the official block.
"The committee uses four general criteria when evaluating
sites: the competition venue, lodging, transportation and the commitment
and ability of the host and the city to administer the championship
according to the committee's policies," said Livengood.
The finalist cities for the men's Final Four, competition venues
and host institutions or conferences are:
• Detroit, Ford Field, University of Detroit-Mercy
• Houston, Reliant Stadium, University of Houston
• Indianapolis, RCA Dome, Butler University and the Horizon
League, co-hosts
• New Orleans, Louisiana Superdome, Tulane University
• San Antonio, Alamodome, University of Texas at San Antonio
• St. Louis, Edward Jones Dome, Missouri Valley Conference
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