Title
City of Phoenix 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four Host Committee Sponsorship (Ordinance S-52026) - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a one-year sponsorship agreement with the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee, in an amount not to exceed $250,000, for the support of hosting responsibilities for the 2026 NCAA Women's Final Four in Phoenix in April of 2026. Funding is available in the Community and Economic Development Department's Downtown Community Reinvestment Fund. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse funds under the terms of the agreement.
Report
Summary
The Community and Economic Development Department is seeking to enter into an agreement to sponsor the Phoenix Final Four Local Organizing Committee and its activities to host the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four. The 2026 Women's Final Four will be the first time the tournament will be held in Arizona. As a sponsor, the City will work with the local host committee to determine event venue locations, be included in marketing materials, partner on Final Four Legacy Project, Read to the Final Four program and collaborate to improve opportunities for Phoenix businesses to participate in the Business Connect and CEO Forum programs related to Final Four events. The 2026 NCAA Women’s national semifinal and championship games will be played at the Phoenix Arena in Downtown Phoenix, with major fan-related events, lodging and meeting activities associated with the tournament being held in Phoenix. The 2025 Women's Final Four recently held in Tampa, Florida drew a combined 39,508 fans to the semifinal and championship games, the highest mark since 2019. Additionally, the women's national championship game had a television audience of more than 8.5 million viewers.
In 2024, Phoenix last hosted the NCAA Men's Final Four ancillary and community events in conjunction with the Phoenix Local Organizing Committee and Arizona State University (Host Institution). The Men's Final Four Fan Fest activities at the Phoenix Convention Center attracted more than 50,000 attendees; 135,000 attended the March Madness Music Festival at Margaret T. Hance Park; and 6,000 participated in the Final Four Dribble at Heritage and Science Park. The Final Four games were watched by nearly 23 million viewers in 176 countries, with 2,200 media members in town to cover the games and related events.
Contract Term
The term of the one-year contract will begin on or about July 1, 2025.
Financial Impact
The total sponsorship contract will not exceed $250,000. Funding is available in the Community and Economic Development Department's Downtown Community Reinvestment Fund.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is recommended by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Community and Economic Development and Phoenix Convention Center departments.