NCAA Eyes Future Men’s March Madness Sites, Extends Ball Alliance With Wilson
Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 07:33PM By Barry Jannoff
November 3, 2022: On the eve of the 2022-23 college basketball season, the NCAA Div. I Men's Basketball Committee said it conducted its annual fall meeting this week in Houston, site of the 2023 Div. I Men’s Final Four in NRG Stadium (April 1-3, 2023), where representatives from prospective Men's Final Four cities made their pitches to host the event from 2027 and beyond.
The NCAA did not reveal which cities had made presentations.
“The committee has not reached a final approved decision on awarding future Men's Final Four sites but is expected to do so later this month,” according to the NCAA.
Upcoming Div. I Men’s Final Four sites also include State Farm Stadium, Phoenix (April 6-8, 2024), San Antonio’s Alamodome (April 5-7, 2025) and Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis (April 4-6, 2026).
The NCAA in February started the bidding to host the Women's Final Four from 2027-2031, with sites scheduled to be named this month.
Upcoming Div. I Women’s Final Four sites include 2023 Dallas (American Airlines Center), 2024 Cleveland (Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse) 2025 Tampa Amalie Arena) and 2026 Phoenix (Footprint Center).
The committee also met with executives from its broadcast partners from Warner Bros. Discovery Sports and CBS Sports to discuss the networks' coverage plans for the upcoming season and 2023 championship.
Separately, Wilson Sporting Goods today unveiled a deal with the NCAA to continue as the official ball of March Madness and the Final Four for both the men's and women's basketball championships, as well as the National Invitation Tournament.
In addition, the Big Ten Men's and Women's basketball championships will exclusively use the Wilson NCAA Evo NXT ball for their tournament, joining other conference championships such as the SEC, PAC-12 and Big 12.
Financial terms of the extension, which builds on a relationship spanning more than two decades, were not disclosed.
"We are thrilled that the NCAA and Wilson are continuing a successful and collaborative partnership that has benefited our student-athletes, coaches and teams," Dan Gavitt, NCAA svp-basketball, said via the organization.
"Wilson has one of the most respected and well-known brands in the sports industry, and we look forward to experiencing their top of the line, evolutionary basketballs at our men's and women's championships."
Chicago-based Wilson, a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corp., also has deals that include the NBA, WNBA, Basketball Africa League and FIBA 3x3.
"We at Wilson take great pride in extending our long-standing partnership with the NCAA and are pleased to see more of their member institutions and athletic conferences choose Wilson for both regular season and championship play," Kevin Murphy, global general manager for Wilson Team Sports, said via the company.”
“It is truly a testament to Wilson's athlete-first mentality, ensuring players at all levels of the game are equipped with the best in basketball innovation, every time they step on the court."
Wilson re-established its role as the NBA’s official basketball beginning with the 2021-22 season, ending an alliance with Spalding, which had been the official game ball of the NBA since 1983.
Prior to 1983, Wilson was the league’s partner for nearly four decades.
NCAA Opens Bidding For Women’s Hoops Hosts 2027-31
Wilson Bounces Back With NBA
Back to Home Page