Wichita has been selected to host the opening round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in both 2027 and 2028, edging out seven other contenders in a bid that was cobbled together in under a month but rests on years of groundwork.
A Decade‑Long Collaboration Pays Off
The victory reflects a coordinated effort that began in 2018, when Josh Howell, Brad Pittman and AJ Boleski started working together on NCAA tournament bids and events, building on a foundation of shared experience.
Wichita’s central U.S. location, ample hotel inventory and a proven track record of staging March Madness games gave the city a distinct edge over the competition.
A Compressed Preparation Window
With only eight months to ready arenas, accommodations and support staff, organizers must move quickly, even though the exact teams and venues will not be known until Selection Sunday.
Past successes, including hosting the men’s tournament in 2018 and 2021 and the women’s Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in 2022, demonstrate Wichita’s capacity to manage large‑scale events, and athletes have repeatedly praised the local basketball culture and hospitality.
Looking Ahead
Stakeholders from Visit Wichita to Wichita State University are already aligning resources, confident that the city’s basketball passion will translate into a smoothly run tournament despite the tight schedule.