GLENDALE, AZ — March Madness is alive in the Valley! UConn and Purdue will face off Monday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale to see who will be crowned the NCAA National Champions!
There are a variety of events that are open to the public around the Valley! Here are some of the major events happening surrounding the tournament:
The March Madness Music Festival has a star-studded lineup of artists, and the best part is it is completely FREE! ZEDD, the Jonas Bros, Mumford & Sons, and the Black Keys will all headline the festival, which takes place from April 5-7. For more information click here.
MARCH MADNESS FANFEST
Fans of all ages can enjoy a weekend packed with events at the Men's Final Four Fan Fest! The Phoenix Convention Center (100 N. 3rd St.) will be filled with interactive games, special celebrity and athlete appearances, autograph signings and much more!
Some of the special guests to appear throughout the weekend include Arizona basketball star Caleb Love, legendary former North Carolina coach Roy Williams, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, TV personality and former player Grant Hill, Oregon head coach Dana Altman, and much more!
HOURS OF OPERATION
- Friday: Noon to 8 p.m.
- Saturday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Monday: Noon to 6 p.m.
Tickets are $10 at the door, but there are multiple ways to get in for free:
- Free entry for those who have tickets to a Men's Final Four game
- Free entry for Capital One cardholders
- Free entry for kids 12 and under (with the purchase of an adult ticket)
- Free entry for Military personnel (and 3 of their guests) on Saturday for Military Appreciation Day.
- Free entry for those who show a ticket stub from one of these teams:
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Phoenix Suns
- Phoenix Mercury (including WNBA All-Star tickets)
- Arizona Coyotes
- Phoenix Rising
MEN'S FINAL FOUR TIP-OFF TAILGATE PRESENTED BY NISSAN
This It's a pre-game celebration! The tailgate has basketball-themed games for all ages, musical performances, a Ferris wheel, and more!
- Cost: Free for fans of all ages.
- Where: Great Lawn at State Farm Stadium [1 Cardinals Drive] in Glendale. Click here for parking information.
- When
- Friday, April 5, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- Saturday, April 6, from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Closed on Sunday, April 7.
- Monday, April 8, from 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
MEN'S FINAL FOUR DRIBBLE
On Sunday, kids 18 and under can come to downtown Phoenix to dribble a one-mile course through the city.
Each child will receive their own one-of-a-kind NCAA Men's Final Four Dribble Wilson basketball along with a t-shirt.
The course will take participants straight to the Men's Final Four Fan Fest, which Dribble participants can then access free of charge.
Registration for the Dribble is full, but you can sign up for a Wait List and see if you can get in on Sunday morning!
THE GAMES
The Final Four round will be played on Saturday, April 6 and the championship game will be played on Monday, April 8.
Want to go to the games? Click here to get your tickets.
While the NCAA Women's National Championship is not in Phoenix, it will be on ABC15! Tune in at noon on Sunday for all the action!
SECURITY
ABC15 spoke with local leaders to ask what they're doing to ensure your safety at Final Four events across the Valley. Watch that press conference in the player below.
If you're headed to a game, make sure you take a look at the security policy for the Final Four!
Some of the prohibited items include:
- Artificial noisemakers
- Smoking, e-cigarettes or vapes
- Outside food and beverage
- Fireworks or weapons of any kind
- Poles or sticks of any kind, including selfie sticks
A clear bag policy will also be in place. Only clutch purchases will be allowed, anything larger or is not clear is prohibited.
