Fans leave San Antonio full of gratitude after an unforgettable NCAA Men’s Final Four weekend.
SAN ANTONIO — After a weekend packed with buzzer-beaters, heartbreak and celebration, fans from across the country are heading home from San Antonio following the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Whether their team won or lost, many say the experience was unforgettable and San Antonio played a big part in that.
Over the past few days, the city hosted thousands of college basketball fans, filling the Alamodome, the Riverwalk and just about every downtown restaurant.
On Monday morning, those same fans were spotted at San Antonio International Airport, running on little sleep but full of gratitude.
“San Antonio is a great host city for this event,” said Tyler Szymanski, who traveled with a group of friends. “Me and my crew, we come to the Final Four every single year, and this is one of the best ones we’ve been to yet.”
Even fans who weren’t cheering for the championship team walked away impressed by both the city and the competition.
“I’ve only been here once, when I was a little kid… it surprised me,” Szymanski added. “It’s a huge city, but it has a small town feel. Everyone was extremely friendly. Great hospitality all around.”
The crowds came from coast to coast, including places like Florida, New York and Chicago. Many were just happy to witness an epic showdown on the court.
“We were down 12. It was not looking… it was not looking good,” said Ken Frisby of Jacksonville, Florida, reflecting on his team’s comeback. “But, you know, it’s a game of runs. So we came back and won. And that was just something I’ll take away forever.”
For some fans, the celebrations didn’t stop with the final whistle.
“We were celebrating all night last night and, hurting this morning,” said Dan, a Florida Gators fan. “But we’re ready to, ready to, get back for another back-to-back title.”
Now, as the city quiets down and the airport fills up, one thing’s clear, San Antonio made an impression.