Sports commission wrapping up Elite Eight arrangements
Mar. 24—Eight of the best NCAA Division II Women's Basketball programs have punched their tickets to the Elite Eight at Civic Arena. Now, the shot clock is on for the city of St. Joseph to finish preparations.
As Gannon, Minnesota State, Daemen, Ferris State, Tampa, Georgia Southwestern, Texas Woman's and California State San Marcos prepare to earn a national championship, much of the heavy lifting has been done for their stays in town.
Unlike last year, the national championship game will be played in town as well.
The biggest piece to plan is adequate hotel space, a dilemma that got sorted out way before the tournament began.
"These hotel rooms are booked three years out," said Brett Esely, director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. "Fortunately enough, the properties that we booked with are still here. We've got very good partners, hotel wise, hospitality wise, restaurant wise."
The one thing that can't be done ahead of time is branding, as the eight teams were decided this past weekend.
This means a lot has to get done in a short matter of time, something that officials knew when they were given this opportunity.
"It's a very quick turnaround," Esely said. "We knew the championship was coming to town. We've had opportunities to plan for this, as have our partners that are helping us out. It really is March Madness and it's that form of madness. But it's a lot of fun. It's a privilege to get to host a national championship."
Typically teams taking part in the tournament will partner with a local elementary school. However, as the St. Joseph elementary schools will be on spring break, the teams will partner with neighboring school districts and will meet with their assigned schools on Sunday.
"We learned last year that obviously any time on a day where school is out, it's difficult to get kids to come back to that school," Esely said. "This is a very unique opportunity. You've got national championship teams that are coming to your school. We've been working on that program literally since last fall."
