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When is the 2017 Final Four?

By Adam Stocker

Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; A view of University of Phoenix Stadium before the 2016 CFP National Championship between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; A view of University of Phoenix Stadium before the 2016 CFP National Championship between the Clemson Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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College basketball season concludes with National Championship game on April 3, 2017.

The Final Four will be hosted by Arizona State University at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. The Final Four will take place on the first weekend in April. The two semi-finals will be played on Saturday April 1st. After a day off, the winners will play in the Championship game on Monday April 3rd.

With the Final Four being played in Arizona, it marks the first time a Final Four has been hosted by a western state since 1995. The last western state to host college basketball’s championship weekend was Washington. Seattle’s Kingdome hosted the championship game in 1995 when UCLA defeated Arkansas to capture their 11th National Championship.

According to the odds makers, Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils are the favorites to play in the championship game as 7 to 2 favorites. Kansas and Kentucky have the same championship odds at 8 to 1.

A recurring theme for football stadiums hosting Final Fours, has been the stadium sight lines leading to terrible offensive games. The poor shooting performances have led to some of the ugliest games in recent title memory. Thankfully, the trend was broken last year when Villanova won on a buzzer beater.

Related Story: 28 Most Memorable Buzzer Beaters in March Madness History

University of Phoenix Stadium is the home of the Arizona Cardinals and the Fiesta Bowl. The stadium capacity is over 63,000 people for football games. But the stadium can be expanded for different events. Including standing room, potentially over 78,000 fans could see the National Championship game.

Hosting championship games is nothing new to the Glendale, Arizona stadium. Since opening in 2006, University of Phoenix Stadium has hosted three college football national championship games (2007, 2011 and 2016) and two Super Bowls (XLII 2006, and XLIX 2015). The stadium has also hosted Wrestlemania XXVI in 2010 and international soccer matches in the 2015 Gold Cup and 2016 Copa America Centenario.

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