‘First Four’ to remain in Dayton through 2028
University of Dayton Arena will extend its streak for tipping off March Madness to 28 years. The "Road to the Final Four" has started in Dayton each year since 2001.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee announced recently that the First Four of its tournament will be played at the University of Dayton Arena in 2027 and 2028. The Arena already had the First Four through 2026.
"Dayton, Ohio and the University of Dayton Arena have tipped off the NCAA tournament since 2001, UD Vice-President and Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said. "Our region is uniquely qualified to continue our long-standing and successful partnership with the NCAA, and we are excited that partnership yields another extension of the NCAA First Four.
"We have successfully hosted over 137 NCAA basketball tournament games, including the Opening Round and First Four since its inception. We have delivered, and will continue to deliver, capacity crowds and a preeminent Championship experience for teams, tournament officials, fans, visiting media and broadcast partners. We stand on the efforts of the Big Hoopla, the LOC and our entire region to make this happen. "
University of Dayton Arena has hosted more NCAA men's Division I basketball tournament games — 137 — than any other venue in the nation. This announcement will take the Arena's total past 150 games.
University of Dayton Arena has hosted the NCAA games in 35 of the 53 tournaments since the Arena opened in 1969. March Madness has opened in Dayton every year since 2001 — from 2001 to 2010 as the Opening Round, and from 2011 to present day as the First Four.
With the help of the First Four Local Organizing Committee in 2011, the University and region played host to Virginia Commonwealth, which went from First Four to Final Four. In 2012, it hosted U.S. President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron at the First Four.
The Big Hoopla First Four® Local Organizing committee, an all-volunteer group, has rallied community leaders, sponsors and organizations to showcase the Dayton region as the Epicenter of College Basketball and its commitment to hosting first-class events.
While supporting the University position as a preferred host site, the committee works collaboratively to drive significant, long-term economic value for the Dayton region by leveraging the media reach of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness to promote and advocate for the region's unique attributes – pride and respect for the military (United States Air Force and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base), a strong sense of service, an innovative history, the importance of STEM education, collaboration, and Midwestern hospitality.
It is Big Hoopla's goal to make the NCAA First Four a lifelong memory for all participants, coaches, administrators, fans, and media and to continue to solidify the NCAA First Four in Dayton.
The Hoopla Ticket Program is the committee's highly successful, charitable community outreach program. Since 2012, the Hoopla Ticket Program has provided over 125,000 NCAA Tournament tickets and tickets to other community events, free-of-charge to military service people, military families, and local students. With the support of generous donors, the Hoopla Ticket Program demonstrates the Miami Valley's appreciation for the selfless sacrifice of active-duty service people and their families, as well as providing a one-of-a-kind experience for underprivileged students in the Dayton region.
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