Dec. 19, 2002

The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee has selected a group of finalist cities in the first step of a two-part process to choose hosts for the Final Four beginning in 2008. The University of Houston and Reliant Stadium along with Tulane University and the Louisiana Superdome have been named among the finalists. The committee also has chosen the sites for the first/second and regional rounds of the 2006 championship and the opening-round beginning in 2004.

The committee chose six sites to compete for the right to host the Final Four in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. The committees will evaluate the six cities this winter and spring, and will name the sites in late June.

"We are pleased with the quality and enthusiasm of the cities and with their commitment to host the Final Four," said Jim Livengood, chair of the men's committee and director of athletics at the University of Arizona.

For the Final Four, the competition venue must have a minimum of 40,000 seats and the city must have 8,500 first-class hotel rooms for the official block.

"The committee uses four general criteria when evaluating sites: the competition venue, lodging, transportation and the commitment and ability of the host and the city to administer the championship according to the committee's policies," said Livengood.

The finalist cities for the men's Final Four, competition venues and host institutions or conferences are:

Detroit, Ford Field, University of Detroit-Mercy

Houston, Reliant Stadium, University of Houston

Indianapolis, RCA Dome, Butler University and the Horizon League, co-hosts

New Orleans, Louisiana Superdome, Tulane University

San Antonio, Alamodome, University of Texas at San Antonio

St. Louis, Edward Jones Dome, Missouri Valley Conference

Following is the schedule of upcoming Final Fours:

2003 - New Orleans

2004 - San Antonio

2005 - St. Louis

2006 - Indianapolis

2007 - Atlanta