CLEVELAND — The dust has settled from the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four semi-finals and championship games in Cleveland, and it's safe to say the event was a resounding success.
“The success of the Final Four is rooted in a combination of detailed preparation, creative thinking and the support we received from the community,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “In particular, the strong partnership with the Cavaliers/Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Mid-American Conference, Destination Cleveland and the City of Cleveland – among so many others that played a role – was the secret sauce that made our city such a successful host. We look forward to many more opportunities to bring Cleveland to the world stage.”
The Local Organizing Committee for the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four shared attendance and initial community engagement numbers for events put on in the city during the event.
The list below are part of the committee's initial report:
- 20,624 fans visited Tourney Town, the free festival at the Huntington Convention Center.
- 22,740 fans enjoyed Party on the Plaza.
- 8,000 Super Saturday Concert tickets sold out in just 4 days.
- 11,291 fans packed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for Super Saturday Practice – double the expected attendance for this event.
- 2,500 youth signed up for Bounce, a unique parade from Public Square to Tourney Town.
- 13,720,002 minutes of reading by students in 119 area schools as part of the Read to the Final Four program.
- 200 local college students and 40+ business leaders participated in Connecting Cleveland. This half-day event was developed in Cleveland and was so well received that it is now scheduled to be an official program of future Women’s Final Fours.
Not mentioned in those numbers are the three sell-out crowds that filled up Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for both semifinals and finals games. Over 40.5 million people tuned in to watch all three games.
“It was truly an honor to host the NCAA Women’s Final Four, one of the world’s most prolific sporting events, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. We are proud to have been able to utilize our platform to elevate and celebrate many of the nation’s top collegiate basketball players. We believe that the 2024 event in Cleveland will be recognized as a seminal moment in the accelerated growth and evolution of women’s basketball for years to come,” said Nic Barlage, Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO.
An ecomomic impact report for the city of Cleveland is set to be released in the summer outlining factors such as total visitation, visitor spending and more.
"The historic turnout and community engagement during Cleveland's hosting of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four exemplifies our city's embrace of women's basketball,” said Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher. “With record-breaking viewership and strong participation in fan events, Cleveland has set a new standard for the Final Four experience, signifying our commitment to celebrating the sport at its highest level. This achievement further highlights our team’s proven track record of delivering top-notch national events."