A public recreation center on Minneapolis’ north side held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday in conjunction with an NCAA effort to give back to communities hosting the Final Four.
The North Commons Recreation Center was the showcase project for the 2019 Minneapolis Final Four Local Organizing Committee, reports the StarTribune. The project revitalized the facility, and includes a new court, new rim and backboard systems, new scoreboards, a new sound system, and refurbished computer labs, study rooms and arts areas.
The project was a joint effort between the NCAA and corporate partners Dove Men Care and Target. The NCAA calls its annual effort the Final Four Legacy Project.
“It’s important for the NCAA to invest in the community that houses our championships,” NCAA representative Ellen Lucey told KSTP.
Organizing committee CEO Kate Mortenson led the dedication ceremony, and called the facility a “transformative refurbishment of this space.”
“North Minneapolis is deserving of a primo facility. North Minneapolis is deserving of excellence,” mayor Jacob Frey said at the event.
