Philadelphia, Penn prepare to host 2000 W. Final Four

The trees could be wrong. According to the leaves on Locust Walk it's only October, but it's beginning to feel distinctly like March. The first scent of March Madness is now in the air, as the 2000 NCAA Women's Final Four is being held in Philadelphia this year, and judging by the planning that is going into it the event promises to be truly "mega huge." Those were the words of Cathy Andruzzi, executive director of Philadelphia Women's Basketball 2000, the local organizing committee for the tournament. Andruzzi spoke Friday afternoon at Dave and Buster's restaurant as part of the official kick-off party and press conference for the tournament, which was also attended by Republican mayoral candidate Sam Katz. "This is our event," Andruzzi told the crowd of media and local collegiate sports figures. "Our opportunity to showcase our city. Our opportunity to help women's basketball grow." The tournament's Championship Week will run from March 27 through April 2, during which time an estimated 40,000 athletes, coaches and fans will converge on the city for various events, culminating with semifinal games on Friday, March 31, and the championship game on Sunday, April 2. All games will be held at the First Union Center. Events planned for the celebration are intended to raise the level of fan excitement. Hoop City, an interactive fan festival at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is expected to draw a crowd in excess of 30,000 from March 31 through April 2. Other events will include the PWB 2000 Phan Phest at the Convention Center on April 1 and April 2, and an open practice and autograph session on March 30 at the First Union Center. The economic impact on the city from the tournament is expected to be massive. Officials are planning on city revenues of roughly $25 million for the week of festivities, including 15,000 hotel room nights. These revenues, as well as the national media exposure that ESPN will bring to the city, were two of the main factors that prompted several area institutions and corporations to come together in 1995 to seek a bid for Philadelphia. Last year's women's championship game was watched by an average of 3.2 million homes, making it the second largest audience ever for a men's or women's college basketball game on ESPN. Among the partners who joined forces to bring the Final Four to Philadelphia were the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, First Union and the Philadelphia Sports Congress, as well as Penn and St. Joseph's University, which are serving as the co-hosts for the event. This year will be the first time the women's tournament will be held in the Northeast. "Philadelphia has become a tremendous destination for major sporting events," said Larry Needle, executive director of the Philadelphia Sports Congress. "We expect that the Women's Final Four will continue that legacy." While the impact on the city is expected to be profound, just as important to many involved with bringing the tournament to Philadelphia is the impact it will have on women's sports. "[It is] an investment in our young girls, daughters and granddaughters," Andruzzi explained. "It'll help Philadelphia and all women's sports," Penn coach Kelly Greenberg noted. "Hopefully, we're gonna piggyback off the men's tournament and let it take us somewhere." Drexel women's basketball coach Kevin Murphy understands the importance of having the tournament in a large city like Philadelphia, where there is much media and fan exposure. "It's a great exposure for the total game from the grass roots," Murphy said. "It's a situation where women's athletics does not have to take a back seat to anything." While finding a ticket to the games will be nearly impossible -- they sold out in July -- PWB 2000 is seeking volunteers to serve as city ambassadors for Championship Week. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and must give 20 hours of work during the week of festivities. Those interested should call the PWB 2000 hotline at 215-985-6500.