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TAMPA — There will be a series of free events and concerts as Tampa hosts the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four for a record fourth time April 4-6, but there are some tips you need to know for parking, tickets and bag policies.
For tournament week, Tampa has lined up a free concert by Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist GloRilla, one of the hottest female rappers out right now. Also, kids will be dribbling basketballs in a parade down the Riverwalk on Saturday, and even those without game tickets will be able to watch the final two teams practice in Amalie Arena, all of it for free.
With such a busy weekend ahead, here are some tips for your own game plan.
Note that only small bags are allowed in all Women’s Final Four events, and that includes Tourney Town at the Convention Center, the Party on the Plaza at Cotanchobee Park, the concerts in Curtis Hixon Park and events in Amalie Arena.
Clutches and purses no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches will be allowed. Medical or parenting bags can be no larger than 14-by-14.5 inches. Unlike other events, clear bags and one-gallon plastic bags are not allowed.
The banned items for both the arena and the park include animals, balls, smoking and folding chairs.
You can bring an umbrella for shade, if it is no longer than 12 inches. An empty water bottle you can refill throughout the day is a smart option.
All transactions will be cashless, so bring credit cards, sunscreen and maybe a permanent marker in case you run into somebody of note and want an autograph.
Keep an eye out for branded belt bags given out for free from Coca-Cola, Powerade and Women’s Final Four, available at select information center locations as well as at Tourney Town and Amalie Arena.
● Women’s Final Four Bounce: On Saturday, April 5, the first 3,000 kids who register on the tournament website will get a free basketball and T-shirt. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and, starting at 11 a.m., they will bounce down the Riverwalk from Curtis Hixon Park to Tourney Town in the convention center.
Take note of the volunteer kayakers who will be positioned in the water to capture and return balls from any wayward bounces.
● Tourney Town in the Tampa Convention Center will have a variety of games and hands-on activities. There’s also a sensory zone called KultureCity, a sensory accessible area with trained volunteers, sensory bags and a mobile sensory room available for families and individuals who have sensory needs.
● Stroller parking: Large strollers and wagons are not permitted in the Tampa Convention Center. A secure stroller storage location can be found at the Channel Entrance of the convention center.
● Outdoor court: New this year, the outdoor court will welcome attendees to Tourney Town. Fans can take part in play or grab a snack and watch the action on the court just outside of Tourney Town.
Cotanchobee Park will be welcoming visitors Friday through Sunday, April 4-6, with drinks, games and food in the park for free at 601 Water St., Tampa.
There will be live music, photo ops and outdoor games. The park party zone will be open 2-7 p.m. Friday, April 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
It is free to watch the final two teams practice on Saturday, but a ticket is required. Register at ncaa.com/womens-final-four/super-saturday-practice.
Note that only small bags are allowed in the arena, which differs from Amalie Arena’s regular bag policy.
No ticket is required, so expect a big crowd to show in Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday, April 5, from 6-10:30 p.m. for a free show by Memphis rapper GloRilla. The Grammy-nominated musician has been savoring the success of her summer takeover alongside Megan Thee Stallion on their soldout “Hot Girl Summer” tour.
The opening act will be DJ ReRe, who has carved a niche for herself as one of the most sought-after DJs in the industry at top festivals and club scenes.
The opening act is scheduled for 6 p.m., with GloRilla on stage at 8 in Curtis Hixon Park.
The women’s Final Four starts on Friday, April 4, with the first semifinal at 7 p.m. at Amalie Arena. The second semifinal matchup will begin 30 minutes after the first game concludes.
Tickets sold out quickly this year, and the resale market shows them starting at $200. Some courtside seats are going for more than $1,000.
Sunday’s championship game will be televised nationally on ABC at 3 p.m.
Continue reading...
For tournament week, Tampa has lined up a free concert by Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist GloRilla, one of the hottest female rappers out right now. Also, kids will be dribbling basketballs in a parade down the Riverwalk on Saturday, and even those without game tickets will be able to watch the final two teams practice in Amalie Arena, all of it for free.
With such a busy weekend ahead, here are some tips for your own game plan.
Getting there
- The free TECO Line Streetcar will operate all weekend, providing easy transportation from downtown Tampa and the Ybor City parking garages.
- The Tampa Downtown Partnership’s DASH ride share service is another inexpensive ride option. Riders can access the Dash app on their smartphones to schedule trips for $2 per ride. The app will figure out the nearest hubs, which are spread throughout downtown’s seven neighborhoods — the Downtown Core, Downtown River Arts Neighborhood Association, Channel District, Water Street, Encore, West River and Tampa Heights. tampasdowntown.com/dash.
- For Saturday’s events, the nearest parking to Curtis Hixon Park is the Poe Garage at 800 N. Ashley Drive and the nearest to Amalie Arena is the Pam Iorio Garage at 640 S. Florida Ave. You can pre-pay for Tampa garage parking using the ParkMobile app for certain garages. amaliearena.com/plan-your-visit/parking.
What to bring
Note that only small bags are allowed in all Women’s Final Four events, and that includes Tourney Town at the Convention Center, the Party on the Plaza at Cotanchobee Park, the concerts in Curtis Hixon Park and events in Amalie Arena.
Clutches and purses no larger than 4.5-by-6.5 inches will be allowed. Medical or parenting bags can be no larger than 14-by-14.5 inches. Unlike other events, clear bags and one-gallon plastic bags are not allowed.
The banned items for both the arena and the park include animals, balls, smoking and folding chairs.
You can bring an umbrella for shade, if it is no longer than 12 inches. An empty water bottle you can refill throughout the day is a smart option.
All transactions will be cashless, so bring credit cards, sunscreen and maybe a permanent marker in case you run into somebody of note and want an autograph.
Keep an eye out for branded belt bags given out for free from Coca-Cola, Powerade and Women’s Final Four, available at select information center locations as well as at Tourney Town and Amalie Arena.
For kids
● Women’s Final Four Bounce: On Saturday, April 5, the first 3,000 kids who register on the tournament website will get a free basketball and T-shirt. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and, starting at 11 a.m., they will bounce down the Riverwalk from Curtis Hixon Park to Tourney Town in the convention center.
Take note of the volunteer kayakers who will be positioned in the water to capture and return balls from any wayward bounces.
● Tourney Town in the Tampa Convention Center will have a variety of games and hands-on activities. There’s also a sensory zone called KultureCity, a sensory accessible area with trained volunteers, sensory bags and a mobile sensory room available for families and individuals who have sensory needs.
● Stroller parking: Large strollers and wagons are not permitted in the Tampa Convention Center. A secure stroller storage location can be found at the Channel Entrance of the convention center.
● Outdoor court: New this year, the outdoor court will welcome attendees to Tourney Town. Fans can take part in play or grab a snack and watch the action on the court just outside of Tourney Town.
Party on the Plaza
Cotanchobee Park will be welcoming visitors Friday through Sunday, April 4-6, with drinks, games and food in the park for free at 601 Water St., Tampa.
There will be live music, photo ops and outdoor games. The park party zone will be open 2-7 p.m. Friday, April 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
Super Saturday Practice
It is free to watch the final two teams practice on Saturday, but a ticket is required. Register at ncaa.com/womens-final-four/super-saturday-practice.
Note that only small bags are allowed in the arena, which differs from Amalie Arena’s regular bag policy.
Super Saturday Concert
No ticket is required, so expect a big crowd to show in Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday, April 5, from 6-10:30 p.m. for a free show by Memphis rapper GloRilla. The Grammy-nominated musician has been savoring the success of her summer takeover alongside Megan Thee Stallion on their soldout “Hot Girl Summer” tour.
The opening act will be DJ ReRe, who has carved a niche for herself as one of the most sought-after DJs in the industry at top festivals and club scenes.
The opening act is scheduled for 6 p.m., with GloRilla on stage at 8 in Curtis Hixon Park.
NCAA championship
The women’s Final Four starts on Friday, April 4, with the first semifinal at 7 p.m. at Amalie Arena. The second semifinal matchup will begin 30 minutes after the first game concludes.
Tickets sold out quickly this year, and the resale market shows them starting at $200. Some courtside seats are going for more than $1,000.
Sunday’s championship game will be televised nationally on ABC at 3 p.m.
Continue reading...
