NCAA Men’s Final Four matchups to take place in San Antonio’s newly renovated Alamodome from March 31 – April 2
San Antonio, TX, 2018-Mar-27 — /Travel PR News/ — March Madness has descended on the Alamo City, and there will be plenty of on and off-the-court action for basketball fans to enjoy during the NCAA Men’s Final Four from March 31 – April 2.
Final Four matchups will take place in San Antonio’s newly renovated Alamodome, which recently welcomed $60 million in upgrades to offer a superior fan experience. Renovations include enhanced video and surround sound, upgraded Wi-Fi coverage, brighter lighting and an expanded concessions concourse. The Alamodome’s H-E-B Plaza features 37,000 square feet of event space and will be a must-see for exciting pre-game activities.
As a top travel destination, San Antonio offers incredible attractions such as its five Spanish Colonial missions, including The Alamo, which are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The world-famous River Walk is now 15 miles long and offers opportunities for river barge tours, hiking, biking and kayaking. Thrill-seekers can get their adrenaline fixes at SeaWorld San Antonio and Six Flags Fiesta Texas, while Morgan’s Wonderland, a theme park designed with special needs in mind, offers fun for all ages and abilities. For those who enjoy pairing basketball with a bit of culture, the Broadway Cultural Corridor is home to some of San Antonio’s finest museums including the San Antonio Museum of Art, The Witte Museum, The DoSeum, and the McNay Art Museum, plus the San Antonio Zoo and the San Antonio Botanical Garden.
San Antonio is celebrating its 300th anniversary this year and was recently named one of the “Best Destinations in the World” for 2018 by “National Geographic Traveler” for its rich culture, incredible cuisine, year-round events and abundance of entertainment and attractions.
Here’s a sampling of what’s in store for your NCAA Final Four getaway to San Antonio:
NCAA Final Four Fan Activities
The NCAA and the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee will host several free and low-cost fan events during Final Four weekend. At the Final Four Fan Fest presented by Capital One fans can enjoy interactive sports activities, special performances, photo ops, prizes, autograph sessions and more. The March Madness Music Festival, presented by AT&T, Coke and Capital One, will feature free concerts on two stages from top national performing artists. On Reese’s Final Four Friday on March 30 at the Alamodome, fans can watch all the Final Four teams practice, hear from each head coach and stay for the National Association of Basketball Coaches Reese’s College All-Star game to see top student athletes from around the country play on the Final Four Court. Final Four Dribble presented by Buick is a free event at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 1, where thousands of children will dribble through San Antonio’s downtown streets. For additional details on all of these Final Four events, please visit ncaa.com/finalfour.
Theme Park Thrills
Six Flags Fiesta Texas will be open to Final Four fans who want to catch some thrills before the big games. A wonderland of sky-scraping rides, water attractions and live shows, Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the “Thrill Capital of South Texas.” The theme park offers rides and adventures for all ages. Check the website for park hours.
Aquatica San Antonio, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™, will debut its new high-speed racing water slide, Taumata Racer® this spring. Named for a famous hill in New Zealand, Taumata Racer allows riders to zoom downhill head first on foam bodysurfing mats in one of six side-by-side lanes. Plus, don’t miss SeaWorld San Antonio’s newest roller coaster, Wave Breaker™: The Rescue Coaster, inspired by SeaWorld’s more than 30,000 animal rescues.
Culinary Hotspots
In October 2017, San Antonio was designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy for its multicultural culinary heritage and vibrant dining scene, which has evolved from “Tex-Mex” to “Tex-Next.”
At Pearl, a former 1800’s brewery reincarnated as a bustling mixed-use community, visitors will find the third campus of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. Tucked among the area’s picturesque green space and unique retail shops are more than 20 acclaimed restaurants, a craft brewery, coffee shops and cocktail and wine bars.
Just minutes from downtown and all of the NCAA action, lies the Southtown neighborhood, which offers a bustling culinary scene among an eclectic mix of hip art galleries intermingled with the charming 1800s German architecture of the King William neighborhood. Longtime dining favorites such as Taco Haven and the Guenther House are sidled up against newer eateries such as Italian hotspot Battalion and the laid back Friendly Spot.
Craft Brews & Cocktails
San Antonio has a colorful history as a beer city, once serving as home to several large breweries including Lone Star and Pearl. Today, the city is home to an evolving collection of craft breweries. Near downtown, you’ll find Alamo Brewery where beer is brewed just a half mile from its namesake, bicycle and pedestrian-friendly Blue Star Brewing Company, HighWheel, which produces beer inspired by flavors around the world, boundary-pushing Freetail and Southerleigh at Pearl.
You’ll find an abundance of margaritas worth writing home about in San Antonio, but for those seeking to explore beyond tequila and lime, the city offers a variety of unique cocktail bars. Paramour offers stunning views paired with playful cocktails. At Haunt at the historic St. Anthony Hotel, each drink is named for a spirit of the property’s past. For bespoke cocktails served in settings reminiscent of bygone eras, Juniper Tar, The Brooklynite and Bohanan’s Bar fit the bill.
For even more San Antonio attractions and events, go to VisitSanAntonio.com/FinalFour.
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Media Contact
Megan Lagrone
MeganLagrone@visitsanantonio.com
210-207-6808
About Visit San Antonio: Visit San Antonio is a 501(c)6, and serves as the sales and marketing arm of San Antonio as a leading leisure and meetings destination. San Antonio welcomes 20.9 million overnight leisure visitors annually. Hospitality is one of the top five industries in the city, contributing $13.6 billion into the local economy and employing more than 130,000. More information about Visit San Antonio can be found at VisitSanAntonio.com.
SOURCE: Visit San Antonio