Official Final Four® Floor Arrives in New Orleans with Parade, Board-Cutting Ceremony on Friday, March 23

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Roger Dunaway
(504) 452-2906
roger@tulane.edu
Nikki Rodrigue
(504) 962-7258
nrodrigue@signature-dmc.com

Official Final Four® Floor Arrives in New Orleans with Parade, Board-Cutting Ceremony on Friday, March 23

The official floor for the 2012 Men's Final Four® will arrive in New Orleans in style and with much fanfare with a special parade and a unique board cutting ceremony at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Friday, March 23.  The ceremony will take place on the west island between Sugar Bowl Drive and Poydras St.

The floor will arrive on Friday, the conclusion of a seven-city tour, and begin its journey to the Superdome with a parade at 10:30 a.m.  The parade will begin on Convention Center Blvd., turn down Poydras St. and proceed to the Superdome.  The floor will be officially dedicated with a board cutting ceremony at the Superdome at 11 a.m.    

New Orleans' Signature DMC is a participant of the Final Four® Minority and Women Owned Business Access Program and is a partner in Friday's events.  (Click here for the parade route: http://www.signature-dmc.com/news-nav/come-out-and-kick-off-the-start-of-the-final-four-with-signature-dmc-and-ups).  The Edna Karr High School band and cheer will be featured in the parade. 

Representatives from UPS, including the floor's driver, Connor Sport Court International and John Koerner, the chair of the New Orleans Local Organizing Committee (LOC) will be on hand for brief comments and will each participate in the ceremony.  All parties will be available for interviews following the conclusion of the event.

Jerry Romig, the legendary voice of the New Orleans Saints, will emcee the board-cutting ceremony.

The New Orleans LOC, UPS and Connor Sport Court International invites the public, business owners and employees to attend both the parade and the board cutting ceremony.

Media representatives and the general public are asked to park free of charge in Garage 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Street closes include Convention Center Blvd., beginning at St. Joseph St., and Poydras St.

The national semifinals and national championship games are sold out but the community can still participate in several free events for fans: the public can watch the teams practice at the Dome on Final Four Friday® and kids 18 and under can get a free basketball to dribble down Poydras Street on Sunday.  For information visit www.ncaa.com/finalfour.

For further information, please contact Roger Dunaway at (504) 452-2906, or by email at roger@tulane.edu, or for questions about the parade, please contact Nikki Rodrigue at (504) 962-7258 or by email at nrodrigue@signature-dmc.com.

What: The official floor for the 2012 Men's Final Four® will arrive in New Orleans on Friday, March 23.  The floor will be part of a parade and will be officially dedicated with a board cutting ceremony.

When: Friday, March 23

Where: Parade - 10:30 a.m. (Convention Center Blvd. to Poydras St. to Mercedes-Benz Superdome)

Board Cutting Ceremony - 11 a.m. (Mercedes Benz Superdome)

FYI: This is a first-time event for the Men's Final Four.