Final Four Festivities Have Northwest Suburban Ties

The Final Four festivities kicked off this weekend, and while all of the events are taking place in downtown Minneapolis, the northwest suburbs are well represented.

“I think it’s great,” said Sgt. Doug Leslin of the Crystal Police Department. “I’m an older officer, I’ll retire soon, and you can look back and know that you did something like this, that you were involved in a big event like the Final Four. It kind of breaks up the monotony of police work, to do something different.”

Five officers from the Crystal Police Department are part of the security detail assigned to the Final Four Fan Fest at the Minneapolis Convention Center. They’ll be on this assignment until Monday. Other local departments are involved in security too.

Over the course of the next few days, tens of thousands of fans will make their way to the venue to take part in different basketball activities and play interactive games.

One of the main organizers of the event happens to be from Plymouth.

“So our role is really to, as companies, help support this event and drive a positive experience for all the people that are coming in from out of town, all the local folks, and just really help as a community come together and make this a great experience,” said Shelly Nelson, the senior V.P. of marketing for Cambria (a business on the organizing committee).

The Final Four Fan Fest runs through Monday. Admission is $10, but kids 12 and under get in free.

Crystal