It’s been seven years since Houston hosted the Final Four, and this year’s NCAA Final Four Tournament weekend coincides with a lot on the calendar.
Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chief Troy Finner, along with officials with the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Houston Police Department, and other organizations teamed up to prepare the city for the upcoming 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four tournament at NRG Stadium.
Mayor Turner says Houston is in the global spotlight and officials are preparing for the busy weekend ahead.
“Between downtown and NRG, it is ON in the city of Houston,” he said.
But the Final Four is not the only event happening this weekend -- the Houston Astros will host their Opening Day weekend at Minute Maid Park, and the Houston Rockets are playing at Toyota Center.
Discovery Green will transform into a music festival where artists such as Megan Thee Stallion will perform this weekend.
Fans will need a ticket for this year’s March Madness Music Festival at Discovery Green. Tickets for Megan Thee Stallion’s performance this Friday are sold out, however, tickets to Lil Nas X and Tim McGraw are still available.
Even though this year’s tournament bracket does not feature Texas schools, there’s always that economic silver lining.
“That still hurts. That’s alright. Even though we aren’t gonna have a Texas team, it’s good for the hotels in the city of Houston,” Mayor Turner said.
The Men’s 2023 Final Four tournament begins March 31-April 3.
What attendees need to know
Policy on clear bags, guns, and other items
All Final Four events, including concerts, have a strict clear bag policy. To view the policy, and view a list of prohibited items, click here. Guns, whether concealed or open carry, are also prohibited in the downtown area.
Stream the concerts online
Officials said although most NCAA events are ticketed, there is a capacity of 22,000 for concerts. If capacity is reached, fans can view the livestream online.
Take advantage of transportation options
The downtown area will have multiple street closures throughout Final Four weekend. To avoid getting stuck in traffic, fans should keep in mind of the following options:
- METRO: METRO will offer free rides on all METRORail routes from March 31 - April 3 courtesy of Coca-Cola.
- Houston BCycle: Fans can get around downtown by renting a bike from any downtown and midtown stations. Click here for locations.
- PediCabs provided by Invesco QQQ also offering free rides. Click here for more information.
- Look for rideshare stations (Lyft/Uber) in multiple areas of downtown.
Safety Tips
Mayor Turner says many people from all over the world will be visiting Houston for the Final Four. Officials provided the following tips for a safe, pleasant visit.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Weather in Houston could go both ways. Officials are urging fans to stay hydrated.
- Please be patient and considerate. Officials say there will be crowds and traffic in the area. Please be patient when coming to and leaving downtown.
- If you drink, DON’T DRIVE. Consider alternative transportation options.
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