Players in Shell Houston Open hope to land tickets to Final Four games

Most tournament directors go to extra lengths to accommodate players, from arranging courtesy cars to making dinner reservations to securing tickets for a sporting event or concert that week.

Not many have the challenge facing Steve Timms at the Shell Houston Open.

The college basketball Final Four is coming to town.

“I’ve already had some inquiries about it when I’ve seen guys,” Timms said.

The NCAA basketball semifinals -- one of the hottest tickets in sports -- will be April 2, the Saturday of the Shell Houston Open. Timms already has been negotiating for tickets with the Final Four’s local organizers, along with his title sponsor, Shell Oil.

It’s a little tougher than when the Rockets are at home.

“We’re starting to round up tickets,” Timms said. “It’s going to be a tough one because the game is sold out. It’s sold out before they know who the teams are. And you know what sports fanatics these guys are. They’re going to want to go. It’s going to be an interesting challenge. It’s going to be difficult to sort out who gets the tickets and who doesn’t.”

Having the Final Four in Houston isn’t all bad. Major companies who host clients during the basketball bonanza also are looking to entertain them elsewhere during the week, and Timms has noticed an increase in groups looking to do something at the Houston Open.