March Madness 2023 Locations: A look at 5 best cities and venues set to host the tournament
Details are set for March Madness as the slate of games prepares for tip off. The NCAA Tournament will take place all over the country, with a number of prestigious stadiums hosting a few matchups.
With the 2023 season considered as open as ever, expectations are building for a terrific tournament. Here is a look at the top stadiums set to host and what games will take place at each location.
Top 5 venues to host NCAA Tournament games
#5, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
T-Mobile Arena will have to wait until after the opening weekend concludes but will host part of the Sweet 16 slate in the NCAA Tournament. The remaining teams out of the West will head to Las Vegas with Kansas, UCLA and Gonzaga the top three seeds from this region.
The arena is located in the heart of the Las Vegas strip and is the home stadium of the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL. It was built in 2007 for $375 million and is often used for UFC events.
While there have been a number of basketball games and tournaments that have taken place at the Arena, most commonly the Pac-12 Tournament, this will be the first time March Madness has been played in Las Vegas. Expect the new facility and Vegas atmosphere to provide an intriguing new element to the tournament.
#4. Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, Iowa
Set to host games for the opening round, Des Moines, Iowa, is excited about the slate of games. On Thursday, four matchups will gake place: (7) Texas A&M vs. (10) Penn State, (2) Texas vs. (15) Colgate, (1) Kansas vs. (16) Howard and (8) Arkansas vs. (9) Illinois. They will host the winners of these games in the second round as well.
This is the third time Des Moines has hosted a part of the NCAA Tournament. The city expects approximately 20,000 people to travel, bringing an economic boost. The stadium hosts the Minnesota Wild of the NHL as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves' G League affiliate and an indoor football team. The arena hosts just under 17,000 at capacity and will be a great atmosphere for basketball.
#3, Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Few places have hosted as much basketball royalty as Madison Square Garden. Located in Midtown Manhattan above Penn Station, it opened in 1968 and is one of the oldest facilities in basketball history. It is the oldest stadium in the NBA, as it hosts the New York Knicks, and the second oldest in the NHL, hosting the New York Rangers.
In the NCAA Tournament, the facility will host the Sweet 16 matchups in the East Region. This bracket is headlined by Purdue, Marquette, Kansas State, Tennessee and Duke. The Garden holds an atmosphere that is impossible to match and will hope to add another legendary game to their impressive resume of performances.
It has hosted 77 March Madness games and has been crowned the "Mecca of Basketball" for good reason.
"The storyline for Duke is this ... if Duke as a five, gets to the second weekend, Madison Square Garden becomes Cameron Indoor Stadium North."
—@JonRothstein https://t.co/otqMfMVWxH
#2, UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio
No location has hosted more NCAA Tournament games than the UD Arena. It is a staple in the planning as the arena has hosted the First Four each year since 2011 and has been involved in the tournament since 1970. In total, the building has hosted 125 March Madness games, which is almost 50 more than any other stadium across the county.
This year, it will host Missouri State vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Fairleigh Dickinson vs. Texas Southern in a battle of No. 16 seeds. They will also host Pittsburgh vs. Mississippi State and Nevada vs. Arizona State, which will compete for the 11th seed in their regions. It is a perfect place to begin the tournament and will have everyone ready for a thrilling next few weeks.
#1, NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas
The 2023 NCAA Tournament will conclude in Houston at NRG Stadium. The building normally hosts the NFL's Houston Texans but has been used for basketball in the past as well. The arena hosted the NCAA championship in 2011 and 2016. It also hosted the regionals in 2008, 2010 and 2016.
Holding a capacity of over 70,000 , it is capable of bringing noise and energy that few other arenas can match. The building gives a professional feel and has everything you can ask for in a championship event.
There are a number of other arenas that are also deserving of being on this list. One of the unique aspects of college basketball is how much influence the buildings tend to have on the in-game experience. Expect each arena to deliver as the tournament gets underway.