NCAA Men's Final Four
March 31 & April 2, 2012

It's the "World Series of College Basketball" and it's coming to New Orleans in late March/early April. It's the National Collegiate Athletic Association's NCAA Men's "Final Four" College Basketball Tournament to be played on the floor of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

This will be the first time since 2003 that New Orleans has hosted the Final Four and the red carpet is being rolled out for an anticipated massive influx of visitors. The city has also hosted the tournament in 1993, 1987 and 1982 and each time it has been widely praised for its hospitality and the wide variety of festive offerings during the tournament weekend.

So this Final Four tournament, like the four others held here in New Orleans, is not going to be just a series of basketball games that will determine the National Champion. This is a big event. A New Orleans-style happening with plenty of other fun activities centered around the big games. Along with the tournament there will be "The Big Dance" Series of free concerts along the Riverfront, the "Bracket Town" FanFest at the Convention Center, youth clinics and even a "Final Four Dribble" through the streets of downtown New Orleans.

Regardless of whether or not your favorite team is playing in these finals, this is still a party you won't want to miss. Here is a summary of the weekend's highlights:

The Big Dance Concert Series

Between Friday, March 30 and Sunday, April 1, Woldenberg Riverfront Park will host a series of free afternoon and evening outdoor concerts featuring top-name artists who are yet to be announced. Past performers have included Kenny Chesney, the Kings of Leon, Stone Temple Pilots and Taylor Swift.

Final Four major sponsors will have demonstrations and samples of their products, and other food and beverage concessions will also be on-site. Visitors are asked not to bring in any food or beverages not purchased at the site. Other rules apply as well.

Here is the three-day schedule:

• Friday, March 30: 4-10 p.m. AT&T Block Party
• Saturday, March 31: 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Coca-Cola Zero Countdown (viewing party on large-screen TV to follow concert)
• Sunday, April 1: 3-10 p.m. Capital One JamFest

For more specifics and the Security Policy (Rules & Regulations) click here: www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2012-01-13/big-dance-concert-series

Bracket Town FanFest

Billed as "The Ultimate Final Four FanFest," Bracket Town offers more than 300,000 square feet of family-friendly activities and events that tie in with the Final Four Tourney. You will have a chance to Meet legendary coaches and former college stars at exclusive autograph sessions, sign up for daily youth clinics, test your athletic skills at one of the NCAA championship sport activities or participate in many of the exhibition's wide variety of offerings. The hours of operation are

• March 30: Noon-8 p.m.
• March 31: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
• April 1: Noon-8 p.m.
• April 2: Noon-7 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-11, students, seniors and military and they may be purchased ahead of time online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Local In-Store Promotions include:

• McDonald's – Receive 50 percent off the price of admission when you present valid promotional cup at the Box Office
• Rouse's supermarkets – Receive one free child's admission with the purchase of one adult admission when you present valid receipt at the Box Office. The Box Office is located at Hall I. Tickets go on sale March 29.

Final Four Downtown Dribble

In a uniquely basketball motif, the Final Four Tournament will feature a "Downtown Dribble" along Poydras Street from the Superdome to the Convention Center. The event is open to all youths who wish to participate and is free to the first 3,000 registrants who are 18 years old or younger.

The dribble will start at Champions Square, just adjacent to the Superdome and will end about ten blocks away at the Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center where the Bracket Town events are being held. On-site registration will run from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and the dribble will start at 2:00. Each participant will receive a free Wilson basketball, T-shirt and admission to Bracket Town refreshed by Coca-Cola Zero on event day.

For a listing of other special events scheduled for the Final Four Weekend go to this link: www.ncaa.com/info/basketball-men/d1/schedule#95911.

The Games

The Final Four always begins with a "Final Sixteen." At the end of the college basketball season, the 16 top teams in each of the nation's four conferences (East, West, Southeast and Southwest) are selected for the first round of eliminations. After the playing the first round, the field is narrowed to the "Final Eight," and after the second round, the "Final Four" make the cut. These final four teams play it out until a final winner emerges victorious on the court. Last year's national champion was the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies.

The game is played in a different city each year. Last year's Final Four was played in Houston.

Who will be this year's finalists? Who will be crowned National Champion? Come to New Orleans for the Final Four and find out, while taking part in the fun action here. For everything you want to know about the Final Four, visit their website at www.ncaa.com/championships/basketball-men/d1

Make your hotel and rental car reservations now at www.ncaa.com/travel/.