Following the NCAA Women’s Final Four events in Tampa, Florida, the organization is giving back to the community. NCAA donated 1.2 tons of items, including approximately 480 NCAA-branded basketballs, ball racks, and personal hygiene items.
Donations went to Hillsborough County schools through the Teaching Tools Resource Center. Some basketballs and ball racks were donated to the Riverfront Recreation Center, which was renovated by the NCAA and its partners.
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, which held its convention at the Tampa Convention Center in conjunction with Women’s Final Four, also donated several items, including two TVs, to local schools.
Event Success¶
NCAA held its free fan festival, Tourney Town, at the Tampa Convention Center in April 2025. More than 22,000 people attended this event, which hit its highest single-day attendance since 2018.
Overall, the 2025 NCAA Women’s Final Four had an estimated economic impact of $30 million for the Tampa region, according to Visit Tampa Bay.
This marked the record fourth time Tampa has hosted the Women’s Final Four.
Other Community Programs¶
NCAA led several other community programs as part of Women’s Final Four festivities. Along with Tourney Town, there were multiple free events for community members to attend.
The NCAA Women’s Final Four, in partnership with the Dove Brand, teamed with the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee to fully renovate the Riverfront Recreation Center at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park, including restoring the basketball court.
Tourney Town also featured several recycling initiatives where fans could root for teams with branded recycling bins. This resulted in 1.73 tons of items recycled from this event alone.
Hundreds of local students were also invited to Tourney Town for a pep rally as part of Read to the Final Four, a program to encourage reading.
Donations and recycling are just a few of the sustainable practices at the Tampa Convention Center. To learn more about these programs, go to https://www.tampa.gov/tcc/about-us/community-programs.