Arena News

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee has announced that Columbus is among eight finalist cities in contention to host the Women’s Final Four between 2012 and 2016. The games would be played at Nationwide Arena with The Ohio State University serving as host institution.

As the local organizing committee, Nationwide Arena, The Ohio State University and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission will host an official site visit for the NCAA staff and Women’s Committee members between mid-September and mid-October. The 2012-2016 Women’s Final Four sites will be announced mid-November.

“On behalf of the Blue Jackets and Nationwide Arena, we are very pleased that the NCAA has selected Columbus as a finalist city to host an upcoming NCAA Women’s Final Four. Hosting an event of this nature would be another example of how our city continues to increase its presence on the national sports landscape. Having already welcomed events like the NHL Entry Draft and NCAA men’s tournament action to Nationwide Arena and the Arena District, the NCAA Women’s Final Four would present a great opportunity to continue to showcase all that Columbus has to offer to fans from across the country,” said Mike Priest, president of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Other cities under consideration are Dallas (American Airlines Center/Big 12 Conference), Denver (Pepsi Center/Mountain West Conference), Indianapolis (Lucas Oil Stadium/Butler University and Horizon League), Nashville (Sommet Center/Ohio Valley Conference), New Orleans (New Orleans Arena/University of New Orleans), San Antonio (Alamodome/University of Texas at San Antonio) and Tampa Bay (St. Pete Times Forum/University of South Florida).

Nationwide Arena, Ohio State and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission will first welcome NCAA Division I Women's Basketball as hosts of the 2009 first and second round tournament games scheduled for March 21 and 23. After hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball first and second rounds in 2004 and 2007, the 2009 women’s tournament will mark Nationwide Arena’s third turn in five years as host venue for NCAA Basketball.

Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) and the Columbus Destroyers (AFL), is an SMG-managed facility. Headquartered in Philadelphia, SMG provides facility services to more than 210 venues controlling over 1.5 million entertainment seats worldwide.

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