View the full session below.
Each panelist — having spent so much time in Detroit — has a testimony to the great change the city has seen. As the city grows economically and becomes more of a national attraction, more people see the privilege it is to experience it.
“When the biggest and best city in our state is healthy, our state’s in a better place, and that’s, I think, the goal of having a Final Four here and putting our best foot forward,” said Tom Izzo of Michigan State University.
NBA Legend Jalen Rose of JRLA, Same Page Entertainment, and Turner Sports, further emphasized that Detroit has long been known for its safety concerns and is not typically considered a destination. However, the 2027 Men’s Final Four is representative of how much the city has grown and its influence around the country.
“There was a time Detroit was considered the most dangerous city, economically challenged, not welcoming,” Rose said. “For us to have a Final Four, economically even, it’s going to be great for our city: for the hotels, for the restaurants, for the bars, for Uber drivers, for everybody! Everybody wins when we have a Final Four.”
At the start of this session, Dave Beachnau of the Detroit Local Organizing Committee for the 2027 tournament shared the unique opportunities attendees will have, without needing tickets to the actual games. The activities he mentioned are just a fraction of the events taking place next April, and Detroit needs all hands on deck to take advantage of the economic opportunity that this event brings.
Michigan State University Basketball Legend Greg Kelser of the Detroit Pistons also referenced the events taking place alongside the 2027 NCAA Final Four, saying that hosting them in a way that will give them a new appreciation and love for Detroit.
“Basketball is the lure … the advantage you have when you’re the host is you get to set the format … all of it is geared to grow the awareness of the city of Detroit,” Kesler said.
Sports can be a way of landmarking a city. In the last couple of years, it started with Detroit hosting the 2024 NFL Draft, and given its success, the expectations are high for the 2027 NCAA Men’s Final Four.
“Now it seems like Detroit is ready to capitalize and take advantage of the situation,” Dusty May of the University of Michigan said. “This is the greatest event in sports, and we have to be ready.”
This session was hosted by Visit Detroit.
