Officials from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and city leaders gathered Wednesday in Lucas Oil Stadium to unveil the 2010 Men’s Final Four logo.

It will be the sixth Men’s Final Four to take place in Indy, 30 years after the first was staged at Market Square Arena. Ironically, both Market Square Arena and the venue for subsequent Final Fours, the Hoosier/RCA Dome, are both gone … or, at least, almost gone. Demolition has begun on the Dome, making way for the expansion of the Indiana Convention Center.

As prelude to the Men’s Final Four, Lucas Oil Stadium will host the NCAA’s Men’s Midwest Regional next March.

And after 2010, the NCAA’s Women’s Final Four returns to downtown Indianapolis in 2011. It was last here in 2005.

Indianapolis also should learn soon if it will host future Men’s and Women’s Final Fours in the NCAA’s next “bid cycle.” While the city and the Indiana Sports Corporation have a memorandum of understanding with the NCAA that somewhat assures that Indianapolis will be a regular host of Final Fours, the city still must meet the bid requirements. And there are 10 cities competing to host the five Final Fours between 2013-2017.

But it was encouraging to hear what NCAA leaders had to say about Indianapolis at the logo unveiling.

“I give a lot of credit to Indianapolis,” said NCAA senior vice president Tom Jernstedt. “They set the pace many, many years ago to make the Final Four what it is today. And just when other cities think they’re catching up to Indianapolis, Indianapolis moves forward.”

Jernstedt then referenced the new Lucas Oil Stadium, the new Weir Cook Terminal at Indianapolis International Airport and the JW Marriott hotel complex that will make Indy even better as a sports/convention/event destination.

Added Mike Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference and chairman of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee:

“This magnificent structure (Lucas Oil Stadium) will no doubt be the home of many, many more Final Fours. Few, if any, embrace sporting events like Indianapolis. When you speak to fans, the one place they tell you they want to come back and back and back to is Indianapolis.”

And we'll happily welcome them ... back and back and back.