NS Moves That: The Route to the Final Four

Mar 30, 2026

By Parker Whidby, Senior Social Media Manager

Elkhart Terminal, Indiana

As the Final Four tips off in Indianapolis, the focus is on the players, the buzzer beaters, and the moments that define March Madness. But long before the madness begins, supply chains are moving to make it possible.

From Indiana and across the network, Norfolk Southern helps move what keeps the tournament running— from the court beneath the players’ feet to the snacks in the stands.

[All data reflects freight moved by NS in the past year alone.]

The stadium builds

It begins with hauling the materials that construct the arenas, sports venues, and playing surfaces, including:

4.4 million+ tons of lumber to build more than one million basketball courts
30 million+ tons of steel that is essential for structural supports, arena frameworks, and more
3 million+ bricks— that’s enough to build three of Lucas Oil Stadiums’ exterior façade, where the Final Four is being played
Nearly 1.5 million tons of aluminum to power scoreboards and arena systems

From the ground up, rail delivers the infrastructure.

The players suit up

Just like our railroaders rely on PPE to help do their jobs safely, basketball players rely on the right gear to perform at their best too. Team NS moves the essentials, including:

10,000+ basketballs transported
6.4 million+ pairs of sneakers
Enough polyester to make 7.5 million+ jerseys
28,000+ tons of athletic goods

The fan’s fuel

From concessions to crowd favorites, our railroaders keep stadiums stocked and fans fueled, including:

20,000+ tons of popcorn to fill more than 700 million stadium bags
156 million+ pounds of candy and chocolate
Enough potatoes to make 3 billion servings of French fries
182 million cans of soda – that’s enough for every seat in Lucas Oil Stadium to have almost 3,000 drinks each!
1.1 billion bottles of beer

The bottom line

No matter who cuts down the nets in Indianapolis, Team NS keeps the game’s essentials moving, 24/7, from Indiana and across our 22-state network.

And for some at NS, the connection to the game goes even further. Many former college athletes are building careers on the railroad.

Read more about how they’re continuing their journeys beyond the game.

Parker Whidby leads Norfolk Southern’s enterprise-wide social media strategy, shaping the brand’s voice and presence across every platform. She joined the railroad in 2023 with more than a decade of expertise in social media, brand storytelling, community management, and influencer engagement.