As Phoenix prepares to welcome visitors from around the world for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the Phoenix Convention Center campus has been getting ready with carefully coordinated activity for months. While fans see the excitement of Tourney Town presented by Capital One, Beyond the Baseline and Four it All Fest, behind the scenes the campus has undergone months of detailed preparation to ensure the venue is ready for one of the nation’s largest sporting events.
From landscaping and lighting checks to backstage repairs, cleaning and technology calibrations, every department plays a role in elevating the guest experience.
“We started our Final Four preparation long before Selection Sunday,” said Jerry Harper, Director of the Phoenix Convention Center & Venues. “Mega events require all-hands-on-deck for our team. We make sure nearly one million square feet of event space is in pristine shape to welcome fans celebrating one of the biggest weekends in women’s sports.”
Preparation started at the beginning of the year with improvements ranging from exterior lighting additions, landscaping enhancements, and pressure washing key pedestrian corridors, to interior tasks such as floor refinishing, ceiling tile replacements, painting high‑traffic spaces, and deep‑cleaning public areas.
“Everything gets inspected,” said Assistant Director Bob Fingerman. “From restrooms to the terrazzo floor, our facilities team is working for months behind the scenes to make sure the venue is ready to welcome thousands of fans. If a guest can see it, or even if they can’t, we make sure it’s operating at the highest standard.”
The effort extends beyond maintenance and cleaning. The Convention Center works closely with the City Major Events team who coordinates with multiple City of Phoenix departments, outside partner agencies and the NCAA.
“As a host city, we look at mega‑events through a citywide lens,” said Eric George, City of Phoenix Major Events Administrator. “The Convention Center is a centerpiece for Final Four programming, but the event extends beyond the PCC. To bring something that large-scale to life takes the coordination and cooperation of multiple city services, the Major Events team serves as the glue for these events, ensuring that everything runs according to plan. “
The Convention Center team looks forward to welcoming thousands of guests beginning April 2 and is proud to serve as one of the locations for unforgettable fan fun.
“This event shines a national spotlight on our destination,” Harper said. “But this level of care and commitment are what we deliver to all clients year-round.”
For more information on the NCAA Women’s Final Four fan events, visit the official NCAA website.