INDIANAPOLIS (11/16/2020) -- The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee announced Monday the relocation of the 13 predetermined preliminary round sites for the 2021 Division I Men's Basketball Championship, which included co-hosts University of Detroit Mercy and Oakland University hosting a first and second round at Little Caesars Arena in mid-March.
The committee concluded that conducting a championship at 13 preliminary sites would be difficult to execute in the current pandemic environment and has decided to hold the championship at a single geographic region to enhance the safety of the men's basketball championship in 2020-21.
As a result, the NCAA staff are in preliminary talks with the State of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis to potentially host the 68-team tournament in the surrounding area during the months of March and April. Indianapolis was already set to host the Men's Basketball Final Four from April 3-5, 2021, with the Horizon League and IUPUI hosting.
The next time Detroit Mercy is slated to host is the 2024 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament Regionals at Little Caesars Arena as well as the 2024 NCAA Division I Women's Bowling Championship. The regionals are set to be co-hosted by Detroit Mercy and Oakland.
The committee emphasized the importance of conducting the championship in a manageable geographic area that limits travel and provides a safe and controlled environment with competition and practice venues, medical resources and lodging for teams and officials all within proximity of one another.
"My committee colleagues and I did not come lightly to the difficult decision to relocate the preliminary rounds of the 2021 tournament, as we understand the disappointment 13 communities will feel to miss out on being part of March Madness next year," said Mitch Barnhart, chair of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee and University of Kentucky athletics director. "With the University of Kentucky slated to host first- and second-round games in March, this is something that directly impacts our school and community, so we certainly share in their regret. The committee and staff deeply appreciate the efforts of all the host institutions and conferences, and we look forward to bringing the tournament back to the impacted sites in future years."
"We have learned so much from monitoring other successful sporting events in the last several months, and it became clear it's not feasible to manage this complex championship in so many different states with the challenges presented by the pandemic," said Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball. "However, we are developing a solid plan to present a safe, responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we've experienced."
"The committee and staff have thoughtfully monitored the pandemic to develop potential contingency plans," said Mark Emmert, NCAA President. "The Board of Governors and my top priorities are to protect the health and well-being of college athletes while also maintaining their opportunity to compete at the highest level. These principles have guided the decision-making process as we continue to assess how to have a fair and safe championship experience."
FORMER 2021 PREDETERMINED SITES (NEXT SCHEDULED YEAR TO HOST AN NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND)
First Four — Dayton, OH, March 16-17 (2022-2026 First Four)
First/Second Round:
- Boise, ID, March 18/20 (None Scheduled)
- Dallas, TX, March 18/20 (2024 South Regional)
- Detroit, MI, March 18/20 (2024 Midwest Regional)
- Providence, RI, March 18/20 (2025 1st/2nd Rounds)
- Lexington, KY, March 19/21 (2025 1st/2nd Rounds)
- Raleigh, NC, March 19/21 (2025 1st/2nd Rounds)
- San Jose, CA, March 19/21 (2026 West Regional)
- Wichita, KS, March 19/21 (2025 1st/2nd Rounds)
West Regional — Denver, CO, March 25/27 (2023, 2025 1st/2nd Rounds)
Midwest Regional — Minneapolis, MN, March 25/27 (None Scheduled)
East Regional — Brooklyn, NY, March 26/28 (2024 1st/2nd Rounds)
South Regional — Memphis, TN, March 26/28 (2024 1st/2nd Rounds)
