Phoenix Sky Harbor expecting 70,000 travelers for NCAA Final Four tournament
Mar 30, 2017, 4:38 AM | Updated: 11:25 am
(Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Photo)
(Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Photo)
PHOENIX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will be a busy place this week as thousands of people fly in for the NCAA Final Four tournament.
In a press release, the airport said it is expecting about 70,000 visitors to pass through the facility for the event.
While the arrivals will likely be spread throughout this week, Tuesday is expected to be about 50 percent busier than usual as fans head home after Monday’s championship game, Sky Harbor spokeswoman Heather Lissner said.
“That’s in addition to the people that have come in for spring break or spring training,” she said.
On an average day, Sky Harbor sees about 120,000 travelers. Tuesday is expecting to see about 180,000 pass through the gates.
“It won’t be quite to Super Bowl levels, but it’ll be around the College Football Playoff levels,” Lissner said.
Travelers are urged to arrive at least two hours early for flights. They can even do a little shopping while they wait.
“Many of the shops are selling all kinds of NCAA merchandise — shirts, hats, cups, you know it,” Lissner said. “After the (championship) game, they will be one of the first retailers to have the shirts that have the final score of the teams that travelers can pick up.”
KTAR’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.
