SAN ANTONIO – The 2024 men’s college basketball champ was crowned last Monday, but the 2025 trophy is already in San Antonio for next year’s Men’s Final Four, which will be played at the Alamodome April 4-7.
Elena Wells, executive director of the 2025 Final Four Local Organizing Committee, anticipates that the championship weekend will generate upwards of $250 million.
“That kind of economic impact over four days is a great economic driver for our city. We look for these types of events all the time, but this is one of the biggest that we do,” Wells said.
The Alamo City is no stranger to hosting the Big Dance, with 2025 marking its fifth time doing it. It’ll be the first since 2018.
“Those events keep our doors open. I would have to say, coming into COVID two years later, it helped everything, and we’re still here,” said Melanie Arismendi, general manager of Alibis Sports Bar.
And the impact of the final four stretches far beyond the weekend, especially for those in hospitality.
“All these people, they make extra money too because they’re working off of tips, so once they start making the extra money, they go out a little bit more, and so we see not just the direct impact of the weekend but also for the weeks to come,” said Ernest Bradley, co-owner of Cherrity Bar.
While the games are nearly a year away, the local organizing committee is already generating hype.
“This is the Fan Jam, and get ready because the Fan Jam will be out and around town over the next 355 days visiting schools and events. It’ll come with a basketball court and some hoops, so you’ll be able to shoot some hoops off it as well,” said Wells.
The Fan Jam also comes with photo opportunities with the 2025 trophy. Its yearlong tour will start with stops at the King William Parade and the San Antonio Sports Corporate Cup.
The event schedule can be found here. It will be updated regularly, and stop requests can be made.