“The University of Dayton, The Big Hoopla, and our community partners have tipped-off the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship for 16 years consecutive years, and we intend to continue that tradition,” UD Vice-President and Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said in a press release. “We have the organizational expertise and have delivered, and will continue to deliver, capacity crowds and a premier Championship experience for teams, tournament officials, fans, visiting media and broadcast partners. All of us in the Dayton region understand, probably more than most, that hosting the NCAA tournament is an honor and a privilege. It’s a responsibility that everyone at the University takes very seriously, and that we do not take for granted.”
UD Arena has hosted 113 tournament games. That is more than any other arena. It has hosted the First Four since the tournament expanded to 68 teams in 2011, and it hosted the play-in or opening-round games from 2001 to 2010.
Hershey, Pa., and Evansville, Ind., and Detroit are also bidding to host the First Four.
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