The Phoenix Local Organizing Committee (PLOC) and the NCAA on Tuesday, March 26 unveiled a series of “Cactus Basketball Hoops” to celebrate the 2024 Men’s Final Four.
The 13-foot installations feature a basketball hoop attached atop a saguaro cactus, its arms appearing to stretch for a rebound. Two of the Cactus Basketball Hoops graphically designed by artist Paul Molina, a member of the Gila River Indian Community in Southern Arizona, will be located near the Marshall Way Bridge in Old Town Scottsdale and at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale.
Two additional Cactus Basketball Hoops with Men’s Final Four visual elements will greet visitors at the entrance of Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix, and a fourth will be on display inside Men’s Final Four Fan Fest April 5-8 at the Phoenix Convention Center.
“The Cactus Basketball Hoops perfectly capture Arizonans’ love for saguaros and basketball,” said Jay Parry, CEO of the PLOC. “Like the saguaro, our community will stand tall as it strives to set a new standard for hosting the Men’s Final Four.”
Molina studied graphic design and visual communications at Collins College in Tempe. He is a self-taught artist in a wide range of mediums: pencil, pen, watercolor, acrylic paint, aerosol paint and mixed media. He enjoys creating content that represents people and cultures, that is visually moving and that evokes positive emotion in his work.
Molina incorporated the roadrunner and jackrabbit in his designs – desert dwellers who rely on quickness and mobility, much like basketball players.
“As an indigenous artist, I feel compelled to visually tell the story of my people from the Huhugam (those before us), and how they thrived off the land and rivers that once flourished throughout the valley of the Gila and Salt rivers,” Molina said. “The Cactus Hoops design is representative of the spirit of Arizona and the beauty and natural resources of the terrain. It also depicts the traditional imagery associated with the indigenous population, paying homage to those who inhabited the land.”
Each statue includes the @azmajorevents social media handle on its base as well as a QR code encouraging fans to visit all four installations around the Valley to take a selfie. By tagging fan photos with the "Cactus Basketball Hoops" with @azmajorevents, fans can win #mfinalfour prizes.
The 2024 Men’s Final Four is set for April 6 and April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
The 2024 Men’s Final Four visual identity takes its inspiration from the rare beauty of Arizona. The remarkable landscapes and geographic features of the area create a distinctive backdrop you’ll only see in Arizona. The bold illustrative style is a nod to western landscape artists whose striking paintings capture the unique scenery all over the state. All of this paired with the colors of the Sonoran Desert and Arizona Turquoise give the 2024 Men’s Final Four a vivid and memorable identity.
On Saturday, March 30 from 1 to 3 p.m., guests can enjoy entertainment, giveaways and an NCAA Championship Trophy photo opportunity. For details and additional activations on the Marshall Way Bridge, visit oldtownscottsdaleaz.com.
