MINNEAPOLIS (December 8, 2017) - The NCAA and the Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee (MLOC), along with Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and University of Minnesota Men’s Basketball Head Coach Richard Pitino joined today at the North Commons Recreation Center in Minneapolis to reveal the official logo for the 2019 NCAA Final Four.

The unveil of the Final Four logo is an important milestone and one of many community-focused activities that will take place in Minneapolis and around the state over the next 16 months, culminating with the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship at U.S. Bank Stadium, April 6-8, 2019.

Among the other special guests and dignitaries on hand for the logo unveil were Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, Bernard Muir, Stanford University’s director of athletics and the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee chair, the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, Sports Minneapolis as well as coaches from local high school and college programs.

“The Final Four logo itself represents a terrific opportunity to showcase Minneapolis to the rest of the world,” said Kate Mortenson, MLOC president and chief executive officer. “As we prepare for the Final Four and four days of basketball excitement, we’re also working to ensure our initiatives engage and benefit Minnesota’s youth, business community and residents. Today’s event is just the beginning.”

The logo is uniquely Minnesotan, combining the contemporary look of the Minneapolis skyline, by including the iconic shape of U.S. Bank Stadium, with the contrasting beauty of nature, a signature asset of the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. Vibrant shades of green and blue evoke spring time and a visual reference to the nearby Mississippi River combines with a bright, orange basketball to capture the energy and motion of the city and its love of the sport.

“We are thrilled to bring one of the world’s best sporting events back to Minneapolis,” said Gavitt. “While this will be the fourth time the city has hosted the Final Four, it will look entirely different for fans who attended it here in the past. The days of having just two games on Saturday and another Monday are a thing of the past. There will be plenty of activities for everyone to take part in, whether or not you have a ticket to the games, or even if you’re not a basketball fan. It’s going to be an incredibly exciting time for the community and we look forward to continuing the planning stages for the 2019 Final Four.”

The MLOC also announced that North Commons Park, a more than century-old Minneapolis park on the city’s North Side, will be the site of the NCAA’s next Legacy Restoration project. The 25-plus acre park, which has served as the “home court” for generations of young athletes, had its first basketball goals installed in 1908. Details around the Legacy Restoration initiative will be shared in the coming months.

“We are excited to welcome thousands of basketball fans from around the country to Minnesota,” said Governor Dayton. “This epic showdown will shine a national spotlight on everything that makes Minnesota such an incredible place to live or to visit. I thank the NCAA and our organizing committee for bringing this exciting national championship to Minnesota.”

Much has changed in the host city since 2001, when the Final Four was played in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. From U.S. Bank Stadium, to light rail to a revamped Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis’ compact, urban footprint allows fans to walk or utilize public transportation to quickly get to any of the Final Four events. Minneapolis also previously hosted the Final Four in 1951 and 1992. For more information, including details about how to volunteer, please visit finalfourminneapolis.com.

About the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee

The Minneapolis Local Organizing Committee (MLOC) was formed to plan and deliver the Men’s Final Four as a local partner to the NCAA. The MLOC includes the University of Minnesota as the host institution, Sports Minneapolis and Meet Minneapolis as liaisons to hospitality, the City of Minneapolis and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, representing the game venue, U.S. Bank Stadium.