Want a championship event? The U's got it.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, that is.

The Land of 10,000 Lakes has found itself host to a boat-load of NCAA Division I championships over the last decade, ranging from basketball and baseball to golf and gymnastics. And these assignments weren't by accident; the U asked for them.

"It's no secret we've hosted as many championships as anyone in the country," said Marc Ryan, Minnesota's assistant director of men's athletics for external relations. "There are lots of ways to look at it, but the exposure for the university and our athletics program, as well as for the Twin Cities, is immeasurable."

Since 1988, Minnesota -- known as the "U" to Minnesotans -- has welcomed championships in seven men's sports and four women's sports. The university even hosted the 1999 NCAA Division III men's swimming championships, citing the desire to provide a top-quality venue that those student-athletes may not otherwise have had the chance to experience.

In March 2001, the NCAA debuts its championship for women's ice hockey -- along with perhaps another chance at a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Care to guess who's hosting?

"We are thrilled to add the inaugural hockey championship to our fabled series of hosting national championships," said women's athletics director Chris Voelz. "Our community and staff embrace them, and we take great pride in setting new standards for such championships."

Those standards of excellence have not gone unnoticed at the Association's national office.

"They've done a marvelous job of hosting a wide variety of NCAA championship events," said Thomas W. Jernstedt, NCAA senior vice-president. "It's always encouraging to see member institutions take such an active interest in serving as host, and they've done it consistently in a wide array of championships."

Jernstedt and staff are actively involved with the Twin Cities this year in preparation for the Men's Final Four, which returns to Minneapolis at the end of March. Minnesota also hosted the 1992 men's finals and the 1995 Women's Final Four, two of the nation's premier sporting events.

"They do a great job of hosting and want to run a first-class event," said Donna Noonan, NCAA vice-president for the Division I Women's Basketball Championship. "And a championship has a way of bringing a community together through things like volunteering and planning. They're very community oriented."

Hub of activity

But while it certainly places a strain on personnel, school officials wouldn't trade places with anyone. Voelz calls it a blueprint for success.

"We want to be the hub of activity," she said. "We think if we throw the party, people will come. The media will stop the presses and take notice because a top-caliber championship in our facilities associates our program with excellence. And our coaches will not just want to host the event, they will want to participate."

Minnesota athletes have competed nine times in front of their home fans during NCAA championship play, all part of Voelz's master plan.

"I hear people say after coming to a championship in Minnesota, 'They really embrace it,' " Voelz said. "In fact, Utah won the 1992 gymnastics championship we hosted and that summer I hired their assistant coach (Jim Stephenson) as our head coach. He said he never would have considered Minnesota if it had not been for the great experience he had at that championship."

Both departments -- men's and women's athletics are separate entities at Minnesota -- emphasize the need to balance everyday workloads with the excitement and on-the-job training that surrounds a championship tournament.

True madness

"We don't usually hire additional staff when we are hosting these events," Ryan said. "And when you're hosting, many times your own teams are competing elsewhere."

Ryan cites March 1996 as, well, a week of true madness.

"We were hosting the (men's) Midwest Regional at the Metrodome the same time NCAA wrestling finals were at the Target Center -- neither of those on-campus, remember. Plus, we hosted an NIT (men's) basketball game the Wednesday before that weekend, and after winning that game, we played another home basketball game the following Monday.

"Meanwhile, our hockey team was playing in the regional at Michigan State, so I was on press row at a couple different venues trying to keep track with what seemed like a dozen different events."

Minnesota's sports venues certainly offer quality homes when the NCAA comes calling.

On campus, the Golden Gophers play basketball at Williams Arena, baseball at Siebert Field, ice hockey at Mariucci Arena and volleyball and gymnastics at the Sports Pavilion. University Aquatic Center is home to swimming and diving events, while downtown Minneapolis to the west of the campus sports the Metrodome and Target Center, where basketball and wrestling events have been staged. St. Paul is just completing construction on the Xcel Energy Center, home to the 2002 Men's Frozen Four.

"It's great exposure for both the city and the institution," Noonan said. "And I think having separate departments makes a difference. I'm sure they communicate with the men's department, but the women's department can make its own decisions regarding what to host and what not to. It gives them an opportunity to enhance women's championships."

Voelz says there is a method to the madness.

"We weren't really having that much success around here a few years ago," she said. "But now we've got two top-10 teams (cross country and volleyball) and our hockey program won the collegiate championship last season. I honestly believe it comes from our dedication to excellence with these events. The administration, staff, coaches and student-athletes get a taste of it and want to experience it first-hand instead of watching other schools compete be the best.

"There's definitely a sense of pride put back in the community when we host. We like to do it."

And the NCAA likes for them to do it. While Minnesota certainly isn't the only first-class host the Association relies upon, it has proven to be one of the standard-setters in the business.

Host pattern

Minnesota's NCAA championship-host history since 1988:

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Baseball -- regional: 2000.

Basketball -- Final Four: 1992, 2001; regional: 1989, 1996, 2003; first/second rounds: 1991, 2000.

Golf -- finals: 1999.

Gymnastics -- finals: 1990.

Ice Hockey -- Frozen Four: 1989, 1991, 1994, 2002; regional: 2000.

Swimming and Diving -- Division I finals: 1994, 1997, 2000; Division III finals -- 1999.

Wrestling -- finals: 1996.

WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIPS

Basketball -- Final Four: 1995.

Gymnastics -- finals: 1992.

Ice Hockey -- Frozen Four: 2001.

Swimming and Diving -- finals: 1993, 1998.

Volleyball -- finals: 1988.