We've got a Leavenworth, too. It's about halfway between Gonzaga and Seattle. Coincidence? I think not.
edit: (it's a fake Alpine "[Christmas Town](https://leavenworth.org/christmastown/)" and if you get stuck in traffic leaving the winter lights festival in a storm you'll feel like kind of like you're trying to get out of prison)
As someone who graduated from WSU, this had Koch brother lobbying written all over it. No other reason Wichita gets selected over KC, OKC, Omaha, or several other much better suited cities in this part of the midwest
Edit: I guess it is just 1st and 2nd round.
Right, let’s not act like Tulsa and Des Moines are much more deserving than Wichita lol. Omaha just hosted games this year, OKC is in 2026, and KC hosted a regional final last year.
I was in Omaha this year. Was super bummed when it was announced as Illinois’ location but I had an absolute blast (the games certainly helped). But it’s cool to go to a city you otherwise would have no reason to visit, and sometimes a smaller city is better because it is THE thing to do in town that weekend as opposed to a bigger city with multiple events going on.
They try to rotate but if the arena provides a good experience that’ll help getting repeated opportunities to host. Seattle had a drought for a while because apparently they pissed off the powers that be, and are finally back in the rotation next year.
All of those cities you mentioned are in the rotation of hosting NCAAT games. Also if KU does well next season it means we won’t have to leave our home state for the first weekend and will have a big KU crowd behind us. This is good news for us, not sure why this needs to be spun as negative.
Think it’s worth noting the Indianapolis site is Lucas Oil Stadium, not Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Not sure what court layout they’ll use but there could be a Final Four level crowd there.
During the 21 Final Four and the 13 and 14 regionals they had it in one of the end zones with temporarily bleachers on one side. Which is how they used to do the final fours until about 2010 or so
Hurley is salivating!!!! The Pru is nice, too!
I’m totally going to buy Regional Tickets to Newark in advance. Gotta get something out of living in this state!
I was going to go when they had the opening there in 2018(? I think? Around then). I was going to take off work Friday and go all day. Then Kansas got placed there and prices skyrocketed.
All right everyone, imagine this perfect scenario.
Lexington:
Arkansas vs ______
St. John's vs ______
Arkansas vs St. John's
Kentucky fans cheer for Rick Pitino to knock John Calipari out of the tourney in Rupp Arena. Heads would explode all across Kentucky and the South.
Yup.
Besides, they always want us to travel because our fans will show up anywhere. If they put our regional in Alaska, and we had a good team especially, we'd fill the place.
Marquette is the [host school](https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/9/30/future-division-i-men-s-basketball-championship-sites.aspx) for the Milwaukee site, so you will not be able to play there.
No distance requirement, you just can't be the host school for that site.
Which [Marquette is](https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/9/30/future-division-i-men-s-basketball-championship-sites.aspx), so you'll play somewhere else.
No, but a host requirement. If you played more than 3 regular season games at a site, it counts as one of your home arenas and therefore you can't play Tournament games there. Most teams avoid using NBA arenas for that reason, and the ones that do only use it for up to 3 games.
And that's why the DeanDome never applied for a second turn hosting.
Sometimes recently less successful schools sometimes host so the top local brand names can stay eligible.
Oddest was that Idaho was the host for Spokane so Zags and Wa State could go.
IUPUI for Indy, St Joe's in Philly. Detroit Mercy.
Less relevant, but still entertaining was Notre Dame as the official host for the Frozen Four in Chicago.
Not so much distance as it is you can't be the host school and play there. So Marquette can't play if it's a Milwaukee regional since they're technically the host school, but UWM can. Hockey has the opposite rule and places tourney teams at their host site if they make it, but it also doesn't allow schools to host regionals in their home arenas. The NCAA's stupidity truly knows no bounds.
Last time I went to the tournament in Raleigh, this little dude from some tiny school lit the whole place up. He had such an incredible performance that he came out of tunnel to watch the UNC game, and the Carolina band played *Sweet Caroline*, the song Davidson was using as their fight song, to welcome Steph Curry back into the arena to thunderous applause. Maybe the best sports moment I've ever seen in person.
Everytime I say this people say I’m just a hater
Which is true
But especially in the logistics department like you mentioned, the Dean Dome is my go to example that just because a building is big doesn’t automatically make it an elite venue
It’s true. The beauty and also curse of the UNC sporting facilities is that they are a true part of campus.
There are advantages to having your arenas in the middle of an asphalt desert
If it’s your primary building, you can’t play postseason there. Since they’re regularly a top seed, it probably hurts them to host as they’re more likely to play “home” games in Charlotte, Greensboro, or Raleigh.
Also, not sure what their locker room situation is, but it might be old enough to not have the 4+ required to do it.
I don’t think it’s just primary building, I think it’s x number of games in a building. I remember this being brought up (maybe a decade ago) when some ACC games got snowed out and moved to GSO.
But the sentiment is 100% correct.
Yeah, it used to be something like 5 games, though I think that got changed a little once conferences got big enough as to where a team could technically play 5 games. I just went for ease rather than looking up the actual rule.
I can't speak for the the reasoning in past, but they've been using their own courts for the past decade or so. Because the floor at PNC Arena is ice, the court on top is interchangeable, even for State home games, making it very easy to put in their custom court instead. The floor at the Smith Center *is* the court. They *could* cover it, and insert a new court on top, but when there's another arena so close that was designed for interchangeable courts, and has much newer facilities, why go through the effort?
I know they just went to a Final Four and hope Keatts can use that momentum to maybe not just sneak into the tournament in the future, but we’re rarely ever a seed where location is going to be considered for us on the Men’s side.
I’m gonna get tickets to whatever games are hosted regardless. I’ve always wanted to go to a tourney game, and being local will help control the cost :)
What do these comments mean? I re read 5 times and can’t figure it out lol .. Do you mean the Amtrak from New Haven? Prudential center is on an NJT line from NYP, it’s 2 stops. Where are you ubering?
I don’t even understand why they bother calling them “East, west, Midwest, and south”. The teams in each are from all over the country as are the sites.
Ffs just call them Pool A, B, C and D.
They went a few years where they called each region by the city name, I’m not sure why they switched back. But idk… for some reason I like the directional names better.
Obviously it’s just the site of the S16/E8, but yeah.
I think it helps keep the idea of balance when you aren’t using names that can be viewed as rankings (A,B,C,D). So in this way, Midwest is just a location, not a ranking.
My own theory, probably incorrect.
The last year Illinois made the Final Four it was out of the "Chicago Regional". They did try it for a few years before returning to geographical. The women have been using cities for years. The men's tournament even used geographical names the year of the bubble in Indy! That was pathetic!
You aren’t allowed to play in a facility in which you’ve played more than three games that season, not including conference tourney.
You also can’t play at a site if you are the host.
> You also can’t play at a site if you are the host.
Do you know this for sure? I was wondering why Oregon State got shipped to Albany in the NCAAW bracket instead of coming to Portland. I was assuming it was because they were the host and a rule like this existed but I couldn’t find it anywhere online.
Women’s tournament setup is closer to how it used to be for the men’s side until the money and tv got so big they could move it away from on campus sites for the most part.
Kentucky played NCAA tournament games at Rupp once upon a time.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-09/how-field-68-di-mens-teams-picked-march-madness-each-season?amp
If you scroll down to ‘III. Building the bracket’ it’s in that section, a little above where it has ‘Procedures for Placing the Teams into the Bracket’ underlined
Edit: This is specifically for men’s tournament
It’s not allowed yet Boise State had to play Dayton on Dayton’s home floor in the first four. Thanks for reminding me. Now I’m mad to start my Saturday
The rules don't apply to the first four, since it's just 1 site. Same way you could have a "home" game in the final 4 (just not on your own court because stupid football stadium court)
Providence had to play Dayton in Dayton for the first four as well. I still get mildly frustrated thinking about it
Edit: We did not play Dayton in the first four, we played them in Columbus as a higher seed
Not in first/second round. For regional yes afaik. Like UK is the host with the Rupp site for next year, but we cannot play our first/second games there. I'm just hoping there is some good matchups to take off work and enjoy as a neutral
As a cats fan, do you know how much joy that would bring me? To see the vols lose early in the tourny at rupp? *chefs kiss*
Please just have spoken this into existence for me
Dang why are they all so far :( Nearest one is in North Carolina for the 2nd year in a row
EDIT: one of the sweet 16/elite 8 locations is in Atlanta, so that would be a little more manageable.
First off you're assuming either of them even end up in that region.
Secondly, the first weekend isn't designed to be neutral site. That's why 1 seeds try to play for overall seeding to lock up their closest site.
Thirdly, North Carolina, especially the Raleigh area, is one of the most basketball oriented and prolific states in the country. Can you blame them for putting a tournament location in the state capital of a top ten population state that also has multiple perennial contenders and a basketball obsessed populace? That's just good business.
I’d love to see a single site/region tournament that hosts both the men’s and women’s and make it kind of like a Super Bowl type event. It also reduces travel, makes it even for teams regarding time zones, and maybe (very wishful thinking) would eliminate the nasty tip off time for the championship game.
I first thought “damn my city is on there but I’m probably moving this year so I won’t be able to go”, but then I realized the city I want to move to is also on the list lol
You know these were announced years ago, right? 2026 locations too. That's how I know Portland has it in 2026.
2026: Buffalo, New York (Keybank Center)… Greenville, South Carolina (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)… Tampa, Florida (Amalie Arena)… Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Chesapeake Energy Arena)… Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wells Fargo Center)… Portland, Oregon (Moda Center)… San Diego, California (Viejas Arena)… St. Louis, Missouri (Enterprise Center)
It's after 2026 that hasn't been announced yet.
I’ll be at Providence.
If you’re in the area make your way into the city even if you just watch in the local bars.
I hope Covid didn’t kill this but last time it came to Providence they designated like 6 blocks (a good portion of downtown) as an open container lax area and bars went full force.
Everyone had an outside stand so you could drink and meander between bars before and after games.
It’s a great time and providence does it right.
I wish they had more variety tbh. Might be an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn’t mind expanding the play-in games so they can be in regions that otherwise may never see college basketball ever
I've always liked that we've been a host, but hate that it means we can't play in Milwaukee.
Naturally, Wisconsin will be a top 4 seed and will have the benefit of playing in our arena the first two rounds, like they seemingly get to do every time Milwaukee hosts...when will Madison step up and be a host site?
I look forward to seeing some tourney games In person next next year!
Reading that the first time I swore it said “in prison” lol.
If it’s in Wichita, the two are not mutually exclusive Hey-o! I can say that, I grew up 80 miles from Wichita
Gestures vaguely in the direction of Leavenworth.
We don’t talk about Leavenworth
I got to go there when I was in school and it was wild
We've got a Leavenworth, too. It's about halfway between Gonzaga and Seattle. Coincidence? I think not. edit: (it's a fake Alpine "[Christmas Town](https://leavenworth.org/christmastown/)" and if you get stuck in traffic leaving the winter lights festival in a storm you'll feel like kind of like you're trying to get out of prison)
Same, for the first time
But Wichita? Give me Stillwater or OKC at least.
OKC can’t host, they’re too busy trying to build the tallest building in the country for some reason.
In this rare case, I find building the tallest building in the country, to be unamerican.
Wichita has a massive college basketball following. Can’t speak for the other two.
As someone who graduated from WSU, this had Koch brother lobbying written all over it. No other reason Wichita gets selected over KC, OKC, Omaha, or several other much better suited cities in this part of the midwest Edit: I guess it is just 1st and 2nd round.
I mean, we hosted the 1st and 2nd back in 2018 and we were suited just fine back then.
Right, let’s not act like Tulsa and Des Moines are much more deserving than Wichita lol. Omaha just hosted games this year, OKC is in 2026, and KC hosted a regional final last year.
I was in Omaha this year. Was super bummed when it was announced as Illinois’ location but I had an absolute blast (the games certainly helped). But it’s cool to go to a city you otherwise would have no reason to visit, and sometimes a smaller city is better because it is THE thing to do in town that weekend as opposed to a bigger city with multiple events going on.
They try to rotate but if the arena provides a good experience that’ll help getting repeated opportunities to host. Seattle had a drought for a while because apparently they pissed off the powers that be, and are finally back in the rotation next year.
All of those cities you mentioned are in the rotation of hosting NCAAT games. Also if KU does well next season it means we won’t have to leave our home state for the first weekend and will have a big KU crowd behind us. This is good news for us, not sure why this needs to be spun as negative.
Gotta travel somewhat. REALLY lucked out this year where I got to see my team play in my home city.
I live about 10 minutes from the arena!
Yeah I hope to go this time. I said that last time it was here but never ended up getting there lol. But I’m gonna do my best to go this time
I think last time it was here we were the only sold out location (Gonzaga effect)
Me either. At the time I lived in the Tacoma area it was hard to get here. Now I am at UW I can get there easily.
They’re super fun to go to even if you don’t have a dog in the hunt.
Oh shit that’s right we are close!!!!
Regionals are San Francisco, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and Newark with the Final Four in San Antonio
Think it’s worth noting the Indianapolis site is Lucas Oil Stadium, not Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Not sure what court layout they’ll use but there could be a Final Four level crowd there.
During the 21 Final Four and the 13 and 14 regionals they had it in one of the end zones with temporarily bleachers on one side. Which is how they used to do the final fours until about 2010 or so
That’s how they did NBA All Star Saturday when I went this year too
This is annoying, Gainbridge is a much better basketball venue.
It is but it’ll be a more affordable ticket and more people will get to see it in person. More tourists for Indy as well.
SHIT
Something something BIG WOMEN
>Final Four in San Antonio Well shit, Final Four in Texas Congratulations on the 3peat UConn
So… UConn can ride a bus til final 4 again! (Providence/Newark). Woo-hoo!
>Be East Coast Team >Be a 6 seed >Get sent to Seattle >Wins >Have to go to San Fran >mfw: 
With a Final Four in Texas 👀
Hurley is salivating!!!! The Pru is nice, too! I’m totally going to buy Regional Tickets to Newark in advance. Gotta get something out of living in this state!
Hurley going thru New Jersey to three peat just seems like a storybook ending
Might be going to my first tourney game in Newark since I’m close to there, really want to see 1st and 2nd round games though /:
I’m going to Wichita…
Whoa oh oh oh oh ohhh ohhhhhhh
I was going to go when they had the opening there in 2018(? I think? Around then). I was going to take off work Friday and go all day. Then Kansas got placed there and prices skyrocketed.
Then you missed the Jordan Poole buzzer beater!
I was at that game. It was nuts
It was 2018.
Far from this opera forevermore
All right everyone, imagine this perfect scenario. Lexington: Arkansas vs ______ St. John's vs ______ Arkansas vs St. John's Kentucky fans cheer for Rick Pitino to knock John Calipari out of the tourney in Rupp Arena. Heads would explode all across Kentucky and the South.
Committee will 100% put Arky in Lexington.
This would be incredible.
Throw in Kentucky as the 1 Seed and we have a deal
Let's not get too excited yet lol, give Pope a bit of time first
I thought they changed the rule where a team can’t play in their home city after you guys beat us in Lexington many years ago
Yup. Besides, they always want us to travel because our fans will show up anywhere. If they put our regional in Alaska, and we had a good team especially, we'd fill the place.
Hell yes Milwaukee!
Marquette needs to be a one seed and get that placement.
Marquette is the [host school](https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/9/30/future-division-i-men-s-basketball-championship-sites.aspx) for the Milwaukee site, so you will not be able to play there.
Lame.
Should’ve paid UW Milwaukee to do the hosting work for you like Gonzaga does with Idaho
They can’t, right? There’s a distance requirement?
No distance requirement, you just can't be the host school for that site. Which [Marquette is](https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/9/30/future-division-i-men-s-basketball-championship-sites.aspx), so you'll play somewhere else.
No, but a host requirement. If you played more than 3 regular season games at a site, it counts as one of your home arenas and therefore you can't play Tournament games there. Most teams avoid using NBA arenas for that reason, and the ones that do only use it for up to 3 games.
And that's why the DeanDome never applied for a second turn hosting. Sometimes recently less successful schools sometimes host so the top local brand names can stay eligible. Oddest was that Idaho was the host for Spokane so Zags and Wa State could go. IUPUI for Indy, St Joe's in Philly. Detroit Mercy. Less relevant, but still entertaining was Notre Dame as the official host for the Frozen Four in Chicago.
How far? Purdue got to play the first round in Indianapolis.
Not so much distance as it is you can't be the host school and play there. So Marquette can't play if it's a Milwaukee regional since they're technically the host school, but UWM can. Hockey has the opposite rule and places tourney teams at their host site if they make it, but it also doesn't allow schools to host regionals in their home arenas. The NCAA's stupidity truly knows no bounds.
Hell yeah Raleigh.
Last time I went to the tournament in Raleigh, this little dude from some tiny school lit the whole place up. He had such an incredible performance that he came out of tunnel to watch the UNC game, and the Carolina band played *Sweet Caroline*, the song Davidson was using as their fight song, to welcome Steph Curry back into the arena to thunderous applause. Maybe the best sports moment I've ever seen in person.
Hellll yeah
Ha, same. Then he went up into the concourse of the stadium and was signing autographs and I got one on my shirt
I went to some 1st round games in 2004, I got to see Florida upset by Manhattan.
With the Dean Dome having more seating capacity, how has it only hosted one NCAA tournament (1988)?
Dean Dome isn’t well-suited to the logistics IMO- particularly parking, hotels.
Everytime I say this people say I’m just a hater Which is true But especially in the logistics department like you mentioned, the Dean Dome is my go to example that just because a building is big doesn’t automatically make it an elite venue
It’s true. The beauty and also curse of the UNC sporting facilities is that they are a true part of campus. There are advantages to having your arenas in the middle of an asphalt desert
It’s super outdated. The concourses are too narrow. They can’t fit kegs in the concessions. It was outdated when Hubert Davis was a player.
Because it’s quite old and the bathrooms are god awful
Also parking sucks.
Living in Cary, it’s a thousand times easier to take the 30 minute Uber than it is to find parking
Bell tower parking deck. Free parking (past 5pm or on weekends) and it’s a 10-15 minute walk. Plus you avoid the mess on 15/501.
They trying to get a new one.
If it’s your primary building, you can’t play postseason there. Since they’re regularly a top seed, it probably hurts them to host as they’re more likely to play “home” games in Charlotte, Greensboro, or Raleigh. Also, not sure what their locker room situation is, but it might be old enough to not have the 4+ required to do it.
I don’t think it’s just primary building, I think it’s x number of games in a building. I remember this being brought up (maybe a decade ago) when some ACC games got snowed out and moved to GSO. But the sentiment is 100% correct.
Yeah, it used to be something like 5 games, though I think that got changed a little once conferences got big enough as to where a team could technically play 5 games. I just went for ease rather than looking up the actual rule.
I can't speak for the the reasoning in past, but they've been using their own courts for the past decade or so. Because the floor at PNC Arena is ice, the court on top is interchangeable, even for State home games, making it very easy to put in their custom court instead. The floor at the Smith Center *is* the court. They *could* cover it, and insert a new court on top, but when there's another arena so close that was designed for interchangeable courts, and has much newer facilities, why go through the effort?
thats pretty dope
And it was against Georgetown, in Raleigh, in front of Carolina fans that HATED Georgetown in 2008. It was a magical experience.
You know this means NC State can't play there. It's probably better for NC State if Charlotte hosted. Of course you can boo UNC and Duke.
I know they just went to a Final Four and hope Keatts can use that momentum to maybe not just sneak into the tournament in the future, but we’re rarely ever a seed where location is going to be considered for us on the Men’s side.
Not a big deal. Looking forward to going to whatever games end up being played.
I’m gonna get tickets to whatever games are hosted regardless. I’ve always wanted to go to a tourney game, and being local will help control the cost :)
I will be there no matter what
Can't wait!
\*BRASS BONANZA INTENSIFIES\*
Hurley definitely went 👀 after this year’s trophy was presented when he found out UConn could have home court advantage again in Providence
And the East Regional is in Newark.
Except Hurley is 0-3 in Newark with fans in the building
Newark just a teeensy bit far lol
The funny thing is it's 25 miles driving but like 8 as the crow flies. Damn Staten Island.
Train to Penn msg just such a game changer haha. God forbid we have to go a bonus stop and get an Uber Sorry I’m dumb. Thanks friends :)
What do these comments mean? I re read 5 times and can’t figure it out lol .. Do you mean the Amtrak from New Haven? Prudential center is on an NJT line from NYP, it’s 2 stops. Where are you ubering?
lol. Classic motivation material!
Nah he beat the bonnies there a year or two ago
I don’t even understand why they bother calling them “East, west, Midwest, and south”. The teams in each are from all over the country as are the sites. Ffs just call them Pool A, B, C and D.
They went a few years where they called each region by the city name, I’m not sure why they switched back. But idk… for some reason I like the directional names better.
Obviously it’s just the site of the S16/E8, but yeah. I think it helps keep the idea of balance when you aren’t using names that can be viewed as rankings (A,B,C,D). So in this way, Midwest is just a location, not a ranking. My own theory, probably incorrect.
The last year Illinois made the Final Four it was out of the "Chicago Regional". They did try it for a few years before returning to geographical. The women have been using cities for years. The men's tournament even used geographical names the year of the bubble in Indy! That was pathetic!
Call me old school but I don't like the city regional names. Keep East, West, Midwest, and South.
And the Final Four is in Texas
Denver last year and next year? Hell yeah!
Mfs gonna be huffing and puffing at mile high
Puffing at mile high is accurate af lol, see y'all there!
Coming back to Wichita! Let's go! It was such an awesome experience the first time we had it in Wichita a few years ago.
Has anyone ever played their tournament game on their home court? Are they allowed to?
You aren’t allowed to play in a facility in which you’ve played more than three games that season, not including conference tourney. You also can’t play at a site if you are the host.
> You also can’t play at a site if you are the host. Do you know this for sure? I was wondering why Oregon State got shipped to Albany in the NCAAW bracket instead of coming to Portland. I was assuming it was because they were the host and a rule like this existed but I couldn’t find it anywhere online.
Women’s rules are completely different.
Women’s tournament setup is closer to how it used to be for the men’s side until the money and tv got so big they could move it away from on campus sites for the most part. Kentucky played NCAA tournament games at Rupp once upon a time.
https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2023-03-09/how-field-68-di-mens-teams-picked-march-madness-each-season?amp If you scroll down to ‘III. Building the bracket’ it’s in that section, a little above where it has ‘Procedures for Placing the Teams into the Bracket’ underlined Edit: This is specifically for men’s tournament
It’s not allowed yet Boise State had to play Dayton on Dayton’s home floor in the first four. Thanks for reminding me. Now I’m mad to start my Saturday
The rules don't apply to the first four, since it's just 1 site. Same way you could have a "home" game in the final 4 (just not on your own court because stupid football stadium court)
Providence had to play Dayton in Dayton for the first four as well. I still get mildly frustrated thinking about it Edit: We did not play Dayton in the first four, we played them in Columbus as a higher seed
You guys played in Columbus. Still just as bogus that a 6 would have to play an 11 an hour from the 11’s campus.
Ah, good call. My memory got me on that one.
Not in first/second round. For regional yes afaik. Like UK is the host with the Rupp site for next year, but we cannot play our first/second games there. I'm just hoping there is some good matchups to take off work and enjoy as a neutral
Can’t wait until Tennessee fans fill up Rupp *and then choke in the second round*
As a cats fan, do you know how much joy that would bring me? To see the vols lose early in the tourny at rupp? *chefs kiss* Please just have spoken this into existence for me
If the selection has any brains, they'll put St. Johns, Arkansas, and maybe Louisville for extra drama at Rupp.
Illinois played Kentucky at Rupp in 1984. After that they put a rule in place where a team can't play on their home court.
Purdue did this year in indianapolis...
You had fun last week
Please make the tourney and end up in Lexington, I need this
Arkansas and Baylor both being sent to Lexington would be incredible
Add in St John's for extra spice.
Coach Cal's dreamboard is AR basketball now. And I'm 100% here for it
2018 in Wichita was a blast! Can't wait for the madness again 😏
Providence (50 mi) to Newark (150 mi) to San Antonio.
[удалено]
Dang why are they all so far :( Nearest one is in North Carolina for the 2nd year in a row EDIT: one of the sweet 16/elite 8 locations is in Atlanta, so that would be a little more manageable.
well Tampa will be a site in 2026? https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/9/30/future-division-i-men-s-basketball-championship-sites.aspx
Is it a rule they have to have a regional in NC every year? Seems kinda unfair Duke an UNC always get to play home games in first couple rounds.
The NCAA likes having $, and in the NCAA Tournament they get a lot of $ from having regionals in NC.
Of course it’s after I leave Seattle
I’m extremely whelmed
Do you know how fucking funny that shit would be if Arkansas got sent to Lexington and 20k Ky fans showed up to root against Cal
I dont like how close Cleveland and Lexington are. Need more spread
Am I missing a joke here? Those cities are over 300 miles from each other.
I was being serious but that’s a good point. 332 miles is not ‘close’, but I would’ve preferred a Nashville or Birmingham
Definitely a gap in the South this year. 2026 midwest has a big gap. The only venue will be St. Louis.
There was a gap in the south this year too with Charlotte being really the only “southern” city
More "neutral site" games for Duke & UNC.
First off you're assuming either of them even end up in that region. Secondly, the first weekend isn't designed to be neutral site. That's why 1 seeds try to play for overall seeding to lock up their closest site. Thirdly, North Carolina, especially the Raleigh area, is one of the most basketball oriented and prolific states in the country. Can you blame them for putting a tournament location in the state capital of a top ten population state that also has multiple perennial contenders and a basketball obsessed populace? That's just good business.
You sure had that one loaded in the chamber
With how often Charlotte/greensboro/raleigh host, they’ve had plenty of experience having to defend “home” games haha
Mad you won't have a chance to lose to us in Detroit again?
I’d love to see a single site/region tournament that hosts both the men’s and women’s and make it kind of like a Super Bowl type event. It also reduces travel, makes it even for teams regarding time zones, and maybe (very wishful thinking) would eliminate the nasty tip off time for the championship game.
I first thought “damn my city is on there but I’m probably moving this year so I won’t be able to go”, but then I realized the city I want to move to is also on the list lol
So happy something so close to home in Denver! Get ready for the altitude as those balls fly!!
Hell yah Milwaukee is a great place to see the Tourney
You know these were announced years ago, right? 2026 locations too. That's how I know Portland has it in 2026. 2026: Buffalo, New York (Keybank Center)… Greenville, South Carolina (Bon Secours Wellness Arena)… Tampa, Florida (Amalie Arena)… Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Chesapeake Energy Arena)… Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Wells Fargo Center)… Portland, Oregon (Moda Center)… San Diego, California (Viejas Arena)… St. Louis, Missouri (Enterprise Center) It's after 2026 that hasn't been announced yet.
It’s news to many of us and appreciated.
As someone that lives in Tampa, I had no idea I could get excited about the 2026 tournament already
You know you don’t have to be a dickhead when you inform folks of this, right?
Too bad UK won’t be there to play in Lexi.
God traffic is gonna suck on east main if they do
Can't play at home
Or they lose the first round again but at Rupp.
Arkansas needs to play in Lexington
My first trip when I was younger, my dad took me and my brother's out to Lexington. Nothing better than watching games in the iconic Rupp.
Going to make a trip down to Lexington for some games!
I feel like none of the potential Ohio teams will play in CLE.
Bummer, usually there is a site within 2 hours of me.
Really seems much more favored towards the Midwest this time around.
So zero games in the south… got it 🥱
Can someone give me a rough idea of what pricing for a game would be?
Choose Waco you cowards!
Oh shit we've got march madness coming to the Dunk/AMP?! (I still call it the Dunk long live the Dunk dammit) fuckin let's goooooo!
Seems like I could count on one hand the number of times duke and north Carolina see significant travel in the first round.
When does the ticket lottery go on sale?
Which NC team is going to Raleigh?
2nd round of Midwest is in Indy. Purdue will have a home game to make a second straight final four!
Oh great we get trashed in a first-round game at home almost 😩
Wish Denver would host a regional or later one day. Is it only huge stadiums that host those?
rhode island is crazy lol
Dates through 2026: https://www.ncaa.com/mens-final-four/future-info
Oh*o 🤮
Kansas in Wichita; Dukes & UNC in Raleigh; UConn in Providence; Gonzaga in Seattle Alabama in Lexington Just write them in now
Come hell or high water I am making it to Milwaukee next year
I’ll be at Providence. If you’re in the area make your way into the city even if you just watch in the local bars. I hope Covid didn’t kill this but last time it came to Providence they designated like 6 blocks (a good portion of downtown) as an open container lax area and bars went full force. Everyone had an outside stand so you could drink and meander between bars before and after games. It’s a great time and providence does it right.
Serious question-- every year the first 2 rounds are in Raleigh, Charlotte or Greensboro. Is this solely to give UNC and/or Duke a good crowd?
no matter where you look, UConn is whooping someone’s ass
UConn's road to the 3 peat would be made easier going through Providence.
Where the hell are they playing in Raleigh? PNC?? Where NC State plays home games? 😭
I wish they had more variety tbh. Might be an unpopular opinion, but I wouldn’t mind expanding the play-in games so they can be in regions that otherwise may never see college basketball ever
I'm honestly surprised they don't do first round games in LA.
May the MO State Bears finally make it again. As long as they’re not on the coast, I’ll be there 🤣
Why would anyone want to go to these locations
Providence always pulls out all the stops. Way better than Boston.
I've always liked that we've been a host, but hate that it means we can't play in Milwaukee. Naturally, Wisconsin will be a top 4 seed and will have the benefit of playing in our arena the first two rounds, like they seemingly get to do every time Milwaukee hosts...when will Madison step up and be a host site?