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SoFi Stadium not in the running to host Final Four

The last Final Four in California took place in 1975 and it's not returning.

When Los Angeles and Las Vegas opened two covered multi-billion-dollar stadiums in 2020 both SoFi Stadium and Allegiant Stadium were considered favorites to host the NCAA Men’s Final Four at some point over the next decade.

On Tuesday, the NCAA announced the sites for the Final Four through 2030 and Las Vegas was awarded the 2028 Final Four but Los Angeles was not mentioned. It likely won’t ever be.  

The last Final Four in California took place in 1975 when John Wooden won his 10th and final national championship with UCLA at the San Diego Sports Arena. Since 1996, the Final Four has taken place in a domed stadium and, well, there aren’t many domed stadiums in California.

Could SoFi Stadium one day host the Final Four? Multiple sources tell The Sporting Tribune it won’t happen.  

Those same sources said last year that SoFi Stadium would not be in the running to host the Final Four when the locations through 2030 were announced.

There are two big reasons SoFi Stadium is not in the running to host the Final Four. The first is the potential glare on the court from the stadium’s translucent canopy roof and what it would cost to potentially mitigate that and the second is the not so small detail of SoFi Stadium technically being an outdoor stadium.

Remember when the Chargers-Raiders game last season had a brief weather delay? SoFi Stadium is the NFL’s first indoor-outdoor venue with the stadium bowl sitting under a canopy. It’s more of an awning than a fixed roof so you can still feel the wind and rain depending on where you’re sitting or standing. It’s not likely the NCAA would stage a championship basketball game in that setting.  

The closest Southern California will come to the Final Four again may be driving or flying to Las Vegas.

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