2023 HOST CITY

2023 Men’s Final Four Fan Jam Truck revealed

2023 Men’s Final Four Fan Jam Truck revealed
Houston is on the clock! Photo by Rob Greer.

Last Friday at Discovery Green Park, the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four® Houston Local Organizing Committee (HLOC) and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner unveiled the Fan Jam Truck—an interactive pop-up truck—as it arrived in Houston to officially pass the proverbial Men’s Final Four host city torch from New Orleans to Houston.

Photo by Rob Greer.

The free event featured pop-up basketball goals, photo opportunities with the Men’s Final Four trophy, giveaways, mascot appearances, a reading nook and more. The Discovery Green stage came alive with band performances from the University of Houston and Texas Southern University – two of the city’s four Final Four host institutions – along with mascot appearances, interactive games for the audience and a special appearance from Mayor Turner.

Photo by Rob Greer.

Attendees brought books for elementary school students, which will be used in the upcoming Read to the Final Four literacy program for area third-grade students.

“Houston is on the clock as host city, and we are ready,” says Holly Kesterson, President of the Houston Local Organizing Committee. She adds, “of course, our city is no stranger to being an incredible host. In fact, Houston has played host to the Men’s Final Four three times already—in 1971, 2011, and 2016. In 2023, we plan to do it bigger and better than ever before.”

Over the next 12 months, the community can expect interactive Fan Jam truck appearances throughout the region; educational initiatives for elementary and college-age students; volunteer opportunities; community impact projects and much more. The tournament week in 2023 will bring fun for residents and visitors alike. On deck are the Men’s Final Four Fan Fest Presented by Capital One; the March Madness Music Festival Presented by Capital One, Coca-Cola and AT&T; and the Final Four Dribble presented by Buick, just to name a few. More information is available at https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four.

Organizers of large-scale events and organization leaders can apply to have the Fan Jam Truck make an appearance at their event or initiative between June 2022 and March 2023 at the following link.

About the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four

Houston will host the 2023 Men’s Final Four® from March 31 through April 3, 2023. Houston Baptist University, Rice University, Texas Southern University and the University of Houston will make history as the first quartet of institutions to host the Final Four. Games will be played on April 1 and 3 at NRG Stadium. The city of Houston is hosting the event for the fourth time, having previously crowned national champions in 1971, 2011 and 2016.

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Cam Smith continues to swing a hot bat! Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.

Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.

One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.

 

Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.

The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.

Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.

Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.

There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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