Wichita Selected to Host NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Opening Rounds in 2027, 2028

Wichita, Kansas – The NCAA announced today that Wichita has been selected to host NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Opening Round in 2027 and 2028 at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Wichita State University will serve as the host institution in partnership with Visit Wichita, INTRUST Bank Arena, the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County. The Opening Round games are scheduled for March 16-17, 2027, and March 14-15, 2028.

"We are honored that the NCAA has once again entrusted Wichita with hosting the Opening Round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship in both 2027 and 2028," said Wichita State Director of Athletics Kevin Saal. "These events provide an incredible opportunity to showcase our community's passion for the game, create a first-class experience for participating student-athletes and fans, and welcome the country to a city that truly embraces March basketball."

The NCAA recently expanded the Division I Men's Basketball Championship from 68 to 76 teams, resulting in additional Opening Round games. Wichita was selected through a competitive site selection process and joins Dayton, Ohio, as one of only two host cities for the Opening Round.

"This selection reinforces Wichita's reputation as the Best Sports-Event Host City in the country," said Josh Howell, vice president of sports development at Visit Wichita. "Our community has a proven track record of delivering exceptional championship experiences for student-athletes, fans and the NCAA. We're excited to welcome visitors from across the country and showcase everything Wichita has to offer."

"Being selected to host Opening Round games for the 2027 and 2028 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship is an honor," said A.J. Boleski, Regional General Manager for INTRUST Bank Arena. "We're excited to welcome teams and fans back to INTRUST Bank Arena and provide an exceptional experience while highlighting Wichita as a premier destination for major sporting events."

Keith Gill, commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference and chair of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee, said Wichita's strong basketball tradition helped earn the selection.

"Like Dayton, Wichita is a basketball-crazed community that we expect will embrace the reimagined start of the tournament," Gill said. “Having a city in Middle America will be advantageous for getting teams from various points around the country, many of which won’t be known until Selection Sunday, to the Opening Round and subsequently first-round sites.”

The announcement adds another marquee NCAA championship to Wichita's long history of hosting collegiate sporting events and further reinforces the destination's national reputation for successfully hosting major championships. In 2025, SportsTravel magazine recognized Wichita as the Best Sports-Event Host City in the country.