Portland to increase security for 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament

PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) -- The Portland Police Bureau is gearing up for the eight teams and fans expected to attend the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament in town. The goal is to facilitate a safe experience for visitors and local fans.

“It is wonderful that Portland is one of the host cities for March Madness,” said Chief Bob Day. “It is important that the teams, our visitors, and local basketball fans feel welcomed while enjoying the games and supporting local businesses. This is an opportunity to showcase our city, and PPB members will be out in the community as visible as possible to help assist in making this a positive and safe event.”

According to police, teams and fans are already arriving for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games that will be played at the Moda Center between Friday, March 29, and Monday, April 1. Throughout the duration of the tournament games, PPB will increase its presence in and around downtown Portland. Beginning Wednesday afternoon, officers and supervisors will be conducting high-visibility patrols around the team and fan hotels. In addition, some traffic officers will be escorting team buses around the city, and when not providing that service, the officers will be patrolling city streets.

Supplementing these efforts will be PPB’s Entertainment Detail working in Old Town and Downtown, and Central Precinct officers and the Bike Squad on routine patrol in the downtown core.

“PPB would like to congratulate Stanford, North Carolina State, Texas, Gonzaga, USC, Baylor, UConn, and Duke on successful seasons up to this point. Additionally, PPB would like to welcome the teams and their fans to Portland for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 tournament games,” PPB said in a Wednesday, March 27 press release.

Read more at PortlandTribune.com.

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