4/1/2017 Final Four Semifinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ

4 years ago today...

April 1, 2017 - Glendale, AZ

The college basketball Final Four semifinals were played before 77,000 fans at University of Phoenix Stadium.
This was metro Phoenix first opportunity to host the Final Four, played in the football stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play. The semifinals on Saturday saw Gonzaga beat South Carolina 77-73 and North Carolina edge Oregon 77-76.
The NCAA now requires a stadium with minimum capacity of 50,000 to host a Final Four. That means a lot of really bad seats in domes never designed for basketball. Fortunately we have Idaho friends who are season ticket holders at Gonzaga and we were able to sit in terrific seats in the Gonzaga fans section for the semis.
Before the games, the Tip-Off Tailgate Party was held on the Great Lawn outside the stadium. This pre-game bash was primarily booze and bands, but they also featured an interactive booth raising money for Hardwood Heroes, a cause supporting military veterans. In this area, we met Purdue Coach and fellow Saluki Matt Painter, former UCLA National Champion Coach Jim Harrick and the just-hired new Coach for the Fighting Illini, Brad Underwood.
I was joined by pal and hoops junky Gary who has been my co-pilot for Final Fours in Minneapolis in 2001, North Texas in 2014 and the 2017 in Glendale.
We returned two nights later to see North Carolina win the Championship over the Zags, 71 - 65.









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7/10/21 Super Bowl of Rock: Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Journey, .38 Special, Soldier Field, Chicago, IL

Image
 44 years ago today... July 10, 1977 - Chicago, IL The "Super Bowl of Rock" headlined by Ted Nugent and Lynyrd Skynyrd was held at Soldier Field. The day opened with a then-relatively unknown .38 Special followed by a new version of Journey and one of the first ever appearances by Steve Perry. Regional favorites REO Speedwagon came on next and then Skynyrd, at their live show peak and the best band of the day. Ted Nugent, also arguably at his career peak performance-wise, closed the festival. In this pre-bottled water era, each of the 60K+ in attendance at Soldier Field could bring in a gallon jug. When Nugent took the stage, the empty jugs were thrown from the back and upper levels of the stadium down to the main floor and toward the stage. Jugs were tossed at the band with Nuge egging it on. So many gallon jugs accumulated on stage the show was stopped and staff with push brooms worked to clear the area.
Read more

5/4/1979 Allman Brothers Band, Freedom Hall, Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville, KY

Image
 42 years ago today... May 4, 1979 - Louisville, KY Following a three-year breakup, the Allman Brothers Band reunited to headline the Derby Eve Jam at Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. As its name suggests, the Derby Eve Jam is an annual concert held on the Friday night before the running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Firefall opened the show, but everyone was there to see Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts after mending fences and releasing a new studio album titled "Enlightened Rogues." My pal and I returned to Louisville and the Run For The Roses for a second-straight year, upgrading our lodging from sleeping bags in the back of my El Camino to a youth hostel tent campus. We arrived at the concert in a significantly altered state. Although we sat high in the rafters of Freedom Hall, we were laser-focused on the stage and these kings of Southern Rock. When the show ended, my friend and I looked at each other clearly ready for more. Chec...
Read more