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Final Four Weekend Is Coming Up – Here’s What Houstonians Can Expect

NRG Stadium is not the only location where basketball fans can feel the excitement.

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  • Discovery Green will host the March Madness Music Festival.
    Discovery Green will host the March Madness Music Festival.
  • Workers are getting the George R. Brown Convention Center ready for the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest.
    Workers are getting the George R. Brown Convention Center ready for the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest.
  • Workers are getting the George R. Brown Convention Center ready for the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest.
    Workers are getting the George R. Brown Convention Center ready for the NCAA Final Four Fan Fest.

Avenida de las Americas is currently a big construction site, but workers there will take a long weekend off as Discovery Green and the George R. Brown Convention Center will turn into the NCAA Fan Fest.

"Most Houstonians won't get to go to the games themselves," said Rachel Quan, vice president of operations for the Final Four Houston Local Organizing Committee.

She said the NCAA wants to make sure everyone can benefit from having the tournament here.

"They want to make sure there's a lot of fun, different things for local Houstonians to do."

What is the fun you can expect? Well, it kicks off on Friday at noon at the George R. Brown.

The Fan Fest there will include basketball games for fans, youth clinics and interactive games. It's $10 to get in, and free for kids under 12.

On Discovery Green there will be free concerts Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

And High schools across Houston will host basketball clinics for kids grades three through eight on Saturday.

"Coaches from Division I, II and III colleges come in – they're here for the National Association of Basketball Coaches convention," Quan said. "They come and they teach the kids some basic skills surrounding basketball and they have a great time. It's completely free, you just have to register online."

The Final Four games themselves happen on Saturday and the final on Monday at NRG Stadium.

Fans without a ticket still have a chance to see players in action. On Friday, they can watch the teams practice for free.

And there's tailgating for all before the games.

"The Tip-Off Tailgate is for fans to actually enjoy a tip-off tailgate party prior to entering the stadium for the basketball games," Leah Mastaglio, assistant general manager for NRG Park, said. "They have live entertainment out there."

One other event takes place at Houston City Hall: A four-mile run and walk on Saturday morning.

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