A $60 million dollar investment in the Alamodome is poised to pay big dividends, Newsradio 1200 WOAI reports.
The upgrades, which include larger concourses, beefed up audio and visual and better Wi-Fi, was not just to lure the 2018 Final Four. The goal was to win a number of future college basketball championships.
Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball, seems impressed with what he's seen so far.
"They've done a lot of nice work," he says. "It's certainly helped a lot, because the event has continued to grow.
"The last time the Final four was played in the Alamodome, the arena was cut in half. One section was used for the games. The other section was for media. Now, thanks to renovations, the court will be in the middle of the stadium. Media has been moved in an underground section, underneath what was once the fountain on the Northside.
Seating has gone from about 40,000 to more than 70,000. The room for the media and staging has been expanded. It's expected the building will hold close to 100,000 for the championship on Monday.
City leaders have been planning for years to get this right. This spring, the NCAA will determine who will host the games from 2023 to 2026, and San Antonio will be fresh in their minds.
Gavitt says the planning committee is eager to see the players take the floor.
"This weekend will tell a whole lot," he tells Newsradio 1200 WOAI. "The early returns are: Excellent work."