The Road to the Final Four® Goes Through Boston
2009 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional in Boston
March 26 & 28, 2009
Boston, MA: The road to the Final Four® travels through Boston when the 2009 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball East Regionals are held at the TD Banknorth Garden March 26 and 28.
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission and Boston College booked the NCAA® Regionals four years ago. “This is a great event for the city during what is traditionally a slow time of year for our visitor industry,” said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The weekend is expected to generate more than $7 million in economic spending for the region’s visitor industry, in addition to the exposure Boston will receive as the games are broadcast nationally by CBS,” Moscaritolo said.
Although the games are sold out, the NCAA® has opened the practices on Wednesday, March 25, to the public. Open Practice Day runs from 11am – 4pm at the TD Banknorth Garden and gives fans the opportunity to see four NCAA® Men’s Basketball Regional participant teams up close as they prepare for their games the following day. Pittsburgh will take on Xavier on March 26 at the TD Banknorth Garden with a 7:27p.m. tip-off. And the much awaited Villanova vs. Duke game will follow at approximately 9:57p.m. The winners at Thursday’s games advance to the Regional final game on March 28 at the TD Banknorth Garden and that winner will move on to Detroit for the Final Four®.
In 2006, the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission began working together with local sports teams, colleges, universities and city and state officials to secure sports events and sports related meetings.
Sporting events and sports related meetings have significant impact on Boston, representing almost 3 million visitors and $1.6 billion dollars in spending for the region. “The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau’s collaboration with our local colleges and universities, city and state officials and the Massachusetts Sports & Entertainment Commission have driven this success,” said Moscaritolo.
Already this year, Boston has hosted the 2009 Champions Cup Boston, an annual series for senior tennis players; 2009 AT&T USA Indoor Track & Field Championships; the 2009 Nike Indoor Nationals; and the 2009 NCAA® Women’s Frozen Four®. Later this year Boston will play host to major events such as the world’s premier global race and nautical adventure, the Volvo Ocean Race. This nine-month race will make its only stop in North America when it comes to Boston April 25 to May 16. The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau is forecasting a $20 million shot in the arm from the Volvo Ocean Race, with 20,000 hotel room nights occupied. Once again, the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championships will return to Gillette Stadium, May 23 – 25. Last year, more than 131,000 fans attended this event over Memorial Day weekend, driving $17 million in visitor spending. The 2009 BDO Women’s Jr. World Cup Field Hockey is set for August 13 – 16. Boston, the birthplace of field hockey in the United States, will serve at
the showcase of the sports newest wave of international talent. Scheduled for August 3-16, 2009, the 16-team Junior World Cup will be held at Harvard University hosted by USA Field Hockey. Held every four years, the Junior World Cup represents the top international event for athletes under the age of 21.
Travel & Leisure readers name Boston
“America’s Favorite City” 2008
BOSTON, October 15, 2008 — Following weeks of multi-stage, online voting for Travel + Leisure’s coveted title of “America’s Favorite City,” Boston emerged the 2008 winner.
Starting three weeks ago on travelandleisure.com, 25 US cities vied against each other in a head-to-head battle for the title. Just twelve cities advanced to Round Two, Boston among them. In Round Two, Boston beat Miami (70% vs. 30%); in Round Three, Boston beat New York and Chicago by capturing 46% of the votes (New York had 29%, Chicago had 25%). In the competing bracket, San Francisco (51% of the votes) beat Honolulu (20%) and San Diego (29%).
In the final round, Boston went up against San Francisco, another USA coastal city worthy of a chance at the title.
“Boston trounced San Francisco to win this year’s title,“ said Nancy Novogrod, Editor-In-Chief of Travel & Leisure magazine.
According to Novogrod, “Boston may be steeped in history, but it is madly evolving. The combination of the new waterfront Institute of Contemporary Art, the Rose Kennedy Greenway, the urban park created by the Big Dig project, and Boston’s hotel scene with new arrivals such as the Mandarin Oriental Boston Hotel, waterfront InterContinental Boston, the Liberty Hotel, and next – the Fairmont Battery Wharf on the waterfront, all add up to a vibrant international destination.”
Patrick Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau is, of course, in agreement with the decision: “Boston, as everyone knows, played an important part in founding this country. It also has been the center of creativity and innovation for more than 300 years, but what makes Boston so popular today is its scale, livability, cultural attractions, historical treasures, and its championship sports teams that drive ‘civic pride.’’ We are thrilled to have been voted American’s Favorite City.”
Source: BostonUSA.com
Boston’s 1st Annual St. Patrick’s Pub Challenge
8 Hours – 8 Pubs – 8 Free Flights to Ireland
Boston Party Tours has teamed up with Tenon Tours and hundreds of your closest friends for Boston’s own St. Patrick’s Pub Challenge, Saturday, March 14th. We’’re heading on a walking pub crawl to eight of Boston’s best Irish pubs for a warm-up to the International Irish Pub Challenge which takes place in Ireland each year. The best part is, eight lucky pub crawlers will win a free flight to Ireland for the main event!
Date: Saturday, March 14th, 2009
Time: 12pm – 8pm
Registration: 11:00am – 3pm at Ned Devine’s
Schedule:
* 11:00 -12:00 Ned Devine’s (early reg)
* 12:00 -1:00 Ned Devine’s
* 1:00 – 2:00 Paddy O’s
* 2:00 – 3:00 Hennessy’s
* 3:00 – 4:00 Purple Shamrock
* 4:00 – 5:00 McFaddens
* 5:00 – 6:00 Kitty O’Sheas
* 6:00 – 7:00 Jose McIntyre’s
* 7:00 – 8:00 Trinity
Cost: Pre-register for just $25.00
(Retail for non-registered participants = $30.00 at Ned Devines)
Price Includes:
* No Cover Charges at Scheduled Locations
* Your Official Pub Challenge T-Shirt (Collector’s Edition)
* Your Official Pub Challenge Pub Cup
* Free Shamrock Beads, Paddy Hats, and other free swag (limited quantities)
* Your Official Pub Crawl Map
* 8 Chances to win a Free Flight to Ireland*
* $50 off the Spring or Fall International Irish Pub Challenge
Register today and save $5.00! Pay with PayPal or any major credit card. (PayPal account NOT required)
*Flight Giveaway Terms: No purchase necessary. One prize will be given away at each scheduled location on the 1/2 hour at each location beginning at 12:30pm and ending at 7:30pm. Winner will be chosen from written submitted entries collected at the registration desk. Winners must claim their prize in person within 30 minutes of announcement. Each prize will be one (1) free flight voucher valid for airfare from Boston to Dublin International Airport (DUB) departing May 2nd, 2009 and returning to Boston from Shannon International Airport (SNN) May 10th, 2009. Actual flight including airline, flight number, and times will be chosen by Tenon Tours. Value of the voucher should include base fare and fuel surcharge, but not exceed a retail of $500.00 USD. Flight voucher does not include departures taxes or fees. Prize must be used in conjunction with the purchase of the “land package” offered by Tenon Tours for the International Irish Pub Challenge.
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