| REGISTER TO WIN | |
 |
T AMPA, Fla. | No, the Big 12 didn’t have a team in the Women’s Final Four, played here in the Sunshine State for the first time. But the league certainly did come out the winner in one area of this NCAA Tournament.
Of the four regional sites, Oklahoma City had the best attendance: 19,373 for two sessions. And among the eight early-round sites, Des Moines, Iowa — where Iowa State was the host — was second in attendance at 21,772 for three sessions.
The Oklahoma City Regional’s success was particularly noteworthy because there was no local team involved to draw fans. Oklahoma, the No. 4 seed, was in that region but was upset in the second round by No. 5 Notre Dame. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State was in the New Orleans Region.
Of the four teams that made it to the Ford Center — Tennessee, Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Duke — the Vols and Aggies brought the most fans from out of town. And Oklahoma and Oklahoma State fans came, wearing their school colors but cheering for fellow Big 12 school A&M. Plus, people from Oklahoma City with no particular allegiance came.
“The first thing I would do is really credit their local organizing committee with what they did to really get out and push the event,” said Judy Southard, chair of the NCAA Division I women’s basketball committee. “I have to take my hat off to (Oklahoma’s) Sherri Coale and the other coaches in the Big 12. They really got out and promoted the event from a Big 12 perspective. And it’s a real testament to the Oklahoma City community.”
Indeed, the attendance was far better in Oklahoma City for the women’s regional than it was at that event when it was held in Kansas City in 2005 and in Dallas last year, the two other cities that have also hosted the Big 12 women’s tournament.
While the Women’s Final Four has been an advance sellout since 1993, the regionals have proved problematic in terms of getting consistent attendance. The NCAA has tried over the years — with varying degrees of success — to balance placement of the regionals in areas that are more “proven” in attendance with giving other areas a chance to grow.
The women’s committee also opted in recent years to give some cities a regional two years in a row to let the event gain some traction in that community. That really didn’t go as planned in Greensboro, N.C., which had a regional this year and last year, and didn’t draw especially well either time.
However, that concept is almost sure to be a success in Oklahoma City, which will be a regional host again next season. And it could get a boost from a local participant next year, if one is placed in the region and makes it that far. Oklahoma State, which made the Sweet 16 this year, projects to be a strong team again in 2009. So does Oklahoma, which had a disappointing end to this season but brings back all of its players, including All-America center Courtney Paris.
In 2010, Kansas City will be host to a regional again, this time at the Sprint Center. (Regionals in 2000 and 2005 were held at Municipal Auditorium.) Kansas City is also hoping to get a future Women’s Final Four. That event was in Kansas City in 1998, St. Louis in 2001 and will be back in St. Louis next season.
When the final stats are released for this season, the Big 12 is sure to lead the nation in Division I women’s basketball attendance for the ninth year in a row. So the NCAA would be wise to keep putting regionals in Big 12 communities that bid on them.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.