Tickets are scarce for the Final Four, the semi-final leg of the NCAA Men's Division Basketball Championship. That doesn't mean you can't celebrate college basketball. There are plenty of Final-Four events in Detroit.
Final Four Friday, April 3rd
On the Friday leading into the Final-Four weekend, several free events take place at Ford Field:
- Team Practice -- The four regional champions hold practice sessions leading into their semi-final games on Saturday. The practices are open to the public, free and start at 12 p.m.
- Hershey’s College All-Star Game –- Following the practice sessions, two teams with players chosen by coaches from around the country will play in the College All-Star Game. It starts after open-practice and attendance is free.
The Big Dance, April 3rd to 5th
The Big Dance is a three-day-long festival being held at the Detroit Riverfront just east of the Renaissance Center from April 3rd to the 5th. The event is free and filled with celebrities, music and other entertainment.NCAA Hoop City (refreshed by Coca-Cola) is an interactive fan experience/festival that takes place in Cobo Center from April 3rd to the 6th. Tickets are $8. The event includes basketball competitions, an amateur tournament for people ages 7 to adult, sports clinics, photo ops, autograph sessions,
Battle of the Final Four Bands, the Hartford ParaOlympic Wheelchair Basketball Exhibition Game and NCAA trivia and memorabilia. Hoop City also plays host to a YES Clinic on April 3rd.
The Road to the Final Four 5K Run/Walk is in its third year. In 2009, it begins at 8:30 a.m. outside Cobo Center (at the corner of Washington and Jefferson Avenues) and runs along Detroit’s new RiverWalk.
Registration is $20 and includes admission to the NCAA's Hoop City. The proceeds will benefit the NCAA Men’s Final Four Legacy Program.
YES Clinics, April 4th
YES Clinics take place throughout the Metro Detroit area on April 4th. The Clinics include drills and sports-skills instruction from NCAA coaches and student athletes.U-of-M Fabulous Five Charity Event, April 4th
Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson are scheduled to take part in a benefit for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The event takes place on April 4th at the Motor City Casino and is not affiliated with the Final Four.Another event in celebration of the NCAA Men’s Division Championship, the Final Four Dribble starts at 2 p.m. on April 5th at the intersection of Witherell and Adams Streets by Ford Field. Participation is free, but
registration is required. You can also register on-site at Gate A of Comerica Park starting at 11:30 a.m. The dribbling course runs from Ford Field to Cobo Center, where the NCAA's Hoop City is being held.
