RESOLUTION NO. RS2008-259

A resolution supporting the efforts for Nashville’s bid for the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

WHEREAS, Nashville is a city respected for its strong sports environment and identity; and

WHEREAS, this image as a sports city has helped identify Nashville as a progressive city and has been a key factor in recruiting business to the area as well as offering more alternatives for recreation and enjoyment to its residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, Nashville and Tennessee have a strong and successful history of women’s collegiate basketball; and

WHEREAS, nowhere was this more evident than in the record-setting success of the recent 2008 SEC Women’s Basketball tournament held in March at the Sommet Center that saw an economic impact of $8.5 million to the local community an all-time SEC record attendance for the Basketball Tournament; and

WHEREAS, the Ohio Valley Conference and the Nashville Sports Council are partnering to bid on hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four for one year between 2012 and 2016; and

WHEREAS, Nashville is one of thirteen cities in position to submit bids for the Final Four; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Final Four has served as the catalyst that brings teams, fans, and business partners together to celebrate the game of women’s’ basketball; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Final Four offers the opportunity to work collaboratively with the NCAA to create positive experiences for its student-athletes, participant institutions, fans and the community; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Final Four serves as economic force that can accelerate the development and/or improvement of local infrastructure, enhance community pride, and generate millions of dollars in economic impact; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Final Four showcases the host city through its media coverage including national full service coverage currently on ESPN; and

WHEREAS, Nashville is a new market for the NCAA Women’s Final Four because it has never hosted an NCAA Final Four event; and

WHEREAS, Nashville is the ideal location for the NCAA Women’s Final Four because its downtown provides a unique and hospitable environment and destination for teams and visitors; and

WHEREAS, not only does the NCAA Final Four bring in the semifinal games but others events that reach out to visitors and locals such as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) annual convention; the NCAA Hoop City ( an interactive and educational fan experience); the 4KayRun which supports the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund; the Basketball bounce in which 2,000+ children take to downtown streets bouncing basketballs; the Youth Education through Sports Clinics (YES) program in which youth have the opportunity to receive sport instruction from NCAA coaches and student-athletes; and the WBCA High School All-America game, held for the nation’s elite girls high school basketball players; and

WHEREAS, the city of Nashville supports the OVC’s and the Nashville Sports Council’s bid to host the NCAA Women’s Final Four for one year between 2012 and 21016; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the Metropolitan Council along with the city of Nashville will be enthusiastically poised to responsibly and effectively consider the needs and requests of the NCAA for planning the Women’s Final Four if the bid is awarded to Nashville.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. The Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as supporting the efforts for Nashville’s bid for the NCAA Women’s Final Four.

Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Mike Jameson, Jerry Maynard, Tim Garrett, Bo Mitchell