Spokane is gearing up to welcome March Madness back to the Pacific Northwest as the NCAA has announced that the Spokane Arena will host the first and second rounds of the 2027 NCAA Tournament. This decision comes as part of the NCAA’s recent announcement regarding future sites for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 championship seasons.
The University of Idaho will be the host institution for the Spokane games, marking another exciting chapter in the city’s history with NCAA basketball. Spokane has become a familiar site for college basketball, having hosted either men’s or women’s tournaments multiple times in recent years. Notably, the 2027 tournament will be the fourth time in just six years that the city plays a key role in the NCAA Tournament scene.
Seattle will also have its turn in the spotlight as Climate Pledge Arena has been selected to host the 2028 NCAA Tournament. This venue will follow its role in 2025 when it will welcome the men’s tournament for the first time. The University of Washington will co-host the event, further igniting excitement in the Emerald City.
Kansas City will continue its legacy as a hub for March Madness, having been chosen to host the 2027 Midwest Regional. This addition brings the city’s all-time total to an impressive 137 tournament games, now tied for second place with Dayton, Ohio. Dayton has been a consistent host of the First Four, a part of the tournament held through 2028.
Meanwhile, the Chase Center in San Francisco has also been selected as a regional host for the 2028 tournament. This marks the third time the venue will host NCAA playoffs since its opening in 2019. It last hosted in 2022 when Gonzaga faced Arkansas in the West Regional.
In addition to these exciting announcements, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team made headlines last season by advancing to the Sweet 16, showcasing the rising talent in Spokane.
With further venues announced for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, including Las Vegas and Philadelphia for the women’s regional in 2027 and Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., in 2028, basketball fans can look forward to a thrilling couple of years ahead.
