Connect With Us

Inside INdiana Business
Subscribe Now Log In
  • Home
  • News
    • Education
    • Health
    • Tech
    • STEM
    • Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics
    • Life Sciences
    • Ag INnovation
    • INPower
  • Videos
  • Big Wigs
    • Submit Big Wigs
  • Events
    • Engage Southwest Indiana – Evansville
    • Engage Northwest Indiana – Valparaiso
    • Engage Greater Lafayette – West Lafayette
    • Engage West Central Indiana – Terre Haute
    • Engage South Bend – Elkhart
    • Engage Northeast Indiana – Fort Wayne
    • Engage Central Indiana – Indianapolis
  • Newsletters
  • Podcasts
  • On-Air
    • TV & Radio Listings
  • Contact
    • About IIB
    • Meet the Team
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Gift Cards
    • Flagship Stations
    • Gerry’s Message
    • Speaking Engagement Request

Connect With Us

NCAA in Talks to Bring All of March Madness to Indy

Monday, November 16, 2020 11:53 AM EDT Updated: Monday, November 16, 2020 01:16 PM EDT
By Alex Brown
NCAA in Talks to Bring All of March Madness to Indy (photo courtesy of the NCAA)

The NCAA says it is in talks to relocate the preliminary rounds for the 2021 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship to the greater Indianapolis area. The Indy-based organization says the decision was made in an effort to “conduct a safe and healthy March Madness for all participants for the 2021 championship.”

The NCAA says its Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has spent the last several weeks working on a contingency planning process for the tournament because of the pandemic. 

“Through these discussions, it became apparent to the committee that conducting the championship at 13 preliminary round sites spread throughout the country would be very difficult to execute in the current pandemic environment,” the NCAA said in a news release. “The committee has decided the championship should be held in a single geographic area to enhance the safety and well-being of the event.”

The organization says it is in talks with the state of Indiana and the city of Indianapolis to host the entire 68-team tournament throughout the Indy metropolitan area during March and April. The 2021 Final Four was already scheduled to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.

“My committee colleagues and I did not come lightly to the difficult decision to relocate the preliminary rounds of the 2021 tournament, as we understand the disappointment 13 communities will feel to miss out on being part of March Madness next year,” said Mitch Barnhart, chair of the Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. “The committee and staff deeply appreciate the efforts of all the host institutions and conferences, and we look forward to bringing the tournament back to the impacted sites in future years.”

The committee says it was important to have the tournament in a “manageable geographic area” that could limit travel and provide a controlled environment for competition, practice, medical resources, and lodging for teams and officials.

“We have learned so much from monitoring other successful sporting events in the last several months, and it became clear it’s not feasible to manage this complex championship in so many different states with the challenges presented by the pandemic,” said Dan Gavitt, senior vice president of basketball for the NCAA. “However, we are developing a solid plan to present a safe, responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we’ve experienced.”

The NCAA did not provide an estimated time frame for confirming the new locations for each game in the tournament.

Story Continues Below

Barnhart, who also serves as athletic director for the University of Kentucky, says a lot of factors went into the decision.
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Gavitt says states having different COVID regulations is one reason to consolidate the locations into one.
Your browser does not support the audio element.

Most Popular Stories

  • Indiana Golf ready to tee off on new HQ at Fort Ben

  • Holcomb makes multiple board, commission appointments

  • Indianapolis tech startup Overfuel acquires competitor

  • IU partnership to focus on AI-driven autonomous racing

  • Valparaiso distillery project nearing completion

  • Strategic steps to take before you sell your company

Perspectives

Strategic steps to take before you sell your company

Strategic steps to take before you sell your company

Before initiating the sale process, it's crucial to evaluate the financial health of your business. Prospective buyers will closely examine financial statements, profit margins, cash flow, and growth potential. Engaging a professional accountant or financial advisor can provide valuable insights to ensure your financial records are accurate and well-organized....

Inside INdiana Business

Inside INdiana Business
A division of IBJ Media

1 Monument Circle, Suite 300
Indianapolis, IN 46204

PHONE: (317) 634-6200

FAX: (317) 263-5060

NEWSLETTER@IIBNEWS.COM

  • Home
  • News
  • Videos
  • Gerry Dick
  • Newsletters
  • On-Air
  • Contact

Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy | Terms of Service