It’s appropriate that college sports’ marquee event has a road in its slogan. That’s because this year, “The Road to the Final Four” ends in the Motor City – and the anticipation has the Detroit community humming like a fine-tuned V-8.

At first glance, it might seem an odd juxtaposition for a glamorous sporting event to be staged in a city currently perceived – correctly or not – as the poster child for America’s economic downturn. But few people in Detroit wouldn’t welcome the opportunity to showcase through the Men’s Final Four that this city still has its motor running.

“It’s no secret that Detroit has struggled as the industrial complex has gotten smaller and the car companies have lost market share,” said Bill Ryan, executive director of the Detroit local organizing committee. “But the truth is that this town has a lot of pride, not only in its community but also its sports. We think it is highly appropriate that the Final Four is here and that everyone is prepared to put on the best show the Final Four has ever had.”

It’s also no secret that the Final Four will infuse a much-needed economic boost into the city. Ryan estimates more than 100,000 visitors will pump about $30-$50 million into Detroit’s economy during their stay at the Final Four. Another 80 million people are expected to view all or parts of the tournament, where they’ll hear all about The Road to Detroit and in turn give the city a chance to market itself to a national, if not global, audience.

To Ryan then, there’s nothing askew with the Final Four being in a city that recently has been covered more in the business pages than in the sports section.

“No, I’m not worried about the juxtaposition at all,” he said. “In fact I believe the opposite – that in many respects Detroit looks for positives no matter how bleak the situation is. I grew up in Detroit and went to school here and that has always been the case. We often face adversity, but for the most part the people who live and work in these communities are committed to the community’s success, and the Final Four is just another example of that commitment.”

There’s no question of Detroit’s ability to host big-time sports events. The Super Bowl was at Ford Field in 2006, and the city also has hosted Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game and World Series, as well as professional golf’s Ryder Cup and PGA Championship.

But city leaders also understand that the NCAA Final Four is different from any of those – certainly no less high-profile, but an event that caters to a different audience and is staged in a completely different way. While the Super Bowl is so much about the private parties and the glam surrounding its celebrity attendees, the Final Four attracts more of a family-centered fan base that appreciates college basketball – and fans who generally pay their own way and who aren’t there on the corporate dime.

“And the events at the Final Four that are funded by corporate dollars are staged for the benefit of the public, for the people who are attending the Final Four, not for private parties,” said Larry Alexander, president and CEO of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Final Four’s footprint also stands out from that of a professional-sports event. NCAA championships are accustomed to flexing their educational muscles in the host cities through community outreach and ancillary events and programs through local schools. The only difference in that regard for Detroit from previous championships is the quantity of the outreach.

Greg Shaheen, NCAA senior vice president for basketball and business strategies, said there are more youth and community activities planned this year than at other Final Fours combined. Part of that is because the NCAA has grown in its ability to stage the Final Four; it’s had 70 years of practice, after all. But the increased outreach also is because of the unique circumstances.

“The event provides a unique opportunity for the NCAA and its corporate champions and partners to set a new standard surrounding NCAA championships,” Shaheen said. “One of our goals is to leave a positive and tangible footprint on our host communities, especially their youth. We think there are many creative ways to give back to the city of Detroit for hosting the Men’s Final Four. It’s our way of saying thank you to Detroit.”

At the same time, that “thank you” has to be tasteful and staged so as to not place undue expectations on future hosts. This is no time to be lavish, Shaheen said.

Keri Gaither, the athletics director at co-host Detroit Mercy, said this Final Four will not be overdone.

“I don’t view the Final Four as excessive,” she said. “You can’t compare the Final Four to the Super Bowl. The Final Four always has been a family-focused event. And in the past few years there has been such an expansion of the ancillary events – that’s the exciting part – it’s almost like the NCAA was looking way ahead and involving the local communities. To have all of these ancillary events that are free to the community makes it actually a great time to have the Final Four in Detroit. It’s about offering opportunities.”

The free events Gaither mentions include:

•        The Big Dance, a three-day outdoor festival of music, food and entertainment that includes “the World’s Largest Pep Rally,” a military flyover and viewing of the games on a giant video screen.

•        Hoop City, a four-day indoor interactive featuring trivia contests, autograph sessions with basketball coaches, live basketball-related entertainment, and a traveling version of the NCAA Hall of Champions.

•        The Final Four Dribble, which allows about 4,000 youngsters ages 18 and younger to bounce basketballs from Hoop City to Ford Field on game day of the semifinals.

But the outreach extends well beyond event-based activities. “Middle School Madness” links classroom learning to the Final Four; a career and college expo exposes students to jobs in sports through panel discussions with industry professionals; a food-recovery program delivers leftovers from hospitality events to Detroit-area shelters; and the NCAA and Wilson Sporting Goods are donating basketball uniforms to local adult and youth organizations.

While those and other efforts are sure to make this Final Four memorable to Detroit residents, Ryan, Gaither, Alexander and other leaders are most excited about an early-education program the NCAA and the Detroit United Way are collaborating on that prepares young children for success in school. The program funds four learning centers in Detroit neighborhoods that provide educational development opportunities for kids ages 5 and under.

“Education is such a focus in the Detroit area because of low high school graduation rates, and our collaboration with the United Way targets early education,” Gaither said. “We’re going to have an impact on so many people’s lives in the Detroit area that will manifest through their early education – we should see some very positive results within a few years.”

While the Final Four is about determining college basketball’s champion through three thrilling games, it’s also about what Gaither said – affecting people’s lives. At no time has that been more important than the present – and perhaps at no location has it been more vital.

“This is not about the NCAA sweeping in to save a city,” Shaheen said, “but there will be a lot more than just three games going on.”

And Detroit officials are ready to make the city sparkle.

“People across the country are saying that Detroit is dying because the auto industry is suffering,” Alexander said. “That’s not true. Detroit has a lot to offer and there are other segments of our economy that are doing quite well. The comparison I always make is that if Wall Street is suffering, nobody says New York is dead. So don’t use Detroit as a metaphor for the auto industry.

“These are challenging times and we all recognize that, but we are looking at this as a showcase of what we have to offer in Detroit and this region. So even though economies are not good anywhere, everyone here is upbeat and positive about this Final Four.”