March Madness is heading to downtown Detroit in 2028 as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced Little Caesars Arena will host the Division I Midwest Men’s Basketball Regional that season.
The tournament is scheduled to tip off March 24-26, 2028.
“From the record-breaking 2024 NFL Draft in April to the Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional in March, this has been a historic year for Detroit,” says Dave Beachnau, executive director of the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC).
“We’re grateful to the NCAA staff and committee for entrusting the DSC, our host institutions, and partners with another Midwest Regional. This opportunity allows us to continue building momentum, showcase Detroit as a premier sports destination, and make a lasting impact on our community.”
The announcement follows Detroit’s selection as the host city for the 2028 Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, taking place at Little Caesars Arena from March 1-5, 2028, marking the first time that tournament will be played in Detroit.
Detroit’s success as a top host city is driven by its world-class venues, strong community collaboration, and proven track record, according to officials In 2027, Ford Field will host the NCAA Men’s Final Four, with the national semifinals on April 3 and the championship game on April 5.
The city has a history of delivering successful NCAA events. Little Caesars Arena hosted the sold-out 2018 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, drew more than 100,000 fans for the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and attracted more than 37,000 attendees for the 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional.
The 2028 Midwest Regional will be co-hosted by the DSC, Oakland University, and University of Detroit Mercy.
“Oakland University is excited to once again partner with the Detroit Sports Commission to host another NCAA Championship event,” says Steve Waterfield, director of athletics at Oakland University. “The 2028 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will bring fans from across the country to Detroit where they will experience a first-class event and see first-hand what makes Detroit a world class sports city.”
University of Detroit Mercy Athletic Director Robert Vowels says, “We appreciate the opportunity to work with Oakland University and the Detroit Sports Commission on NCAA national events like the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. It’s a tremendous honor and privilege especially since as a university we have a proud history of hosting a number of NCAA Championships in the city of Detroit. The visibility and recognition of a premiere tournament on a national stage is exciting for the university, alumni, fans, and friends of the program.”
Ryan Gustafson, president and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, adds, “We’re thrilled about the opportunity for Little Caesars Arena and the city of Detroit to host the 2028 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regionals. Little Caesars Arena is a world-class venue that has been home to some incredible moments over the past seven years. We’re appreciative of the NCAA for continuing to entrust in our organization to host these events, and we look forward to creating a great experience for the fans and student-athletes.”
Since its inception in 2001, the DSC has secured a wide range of NCAA events for Detroit, including:
- NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships: 2007, 2022,
- NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional: 2008, 2024, 2028
- NCAA Men’s Final Four: 2009, 2027
- NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four: 2010, 2020
- NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds: 2013, 2018, 2021
- NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Bowling Championships: 2009, 2011, 2013, 2020, 2024
- NCAA National Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Fencing Championships: 2020
- NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships: 2021
- NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Championships: 2022
As part of the NCAA’s current bidding cycle, 88 of its 90 annual championships, including preliminary and regional competitions, were up for bid from fall 2026 through spring 2028. In February, the DSC submitted bids for four key events, including the 2028 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First/Second Rounds, 2028 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regionals, 2028 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and the 2028 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship.
For more information, visit detroitsports.org.
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