will return in 20-28. This is a LIVE look downtown tonight. This will be the fourth time Des Moines has hosted the men's tournament. It was most recently here in 20-23. vlog'sOphelie Jacobson is LIVE at Wells Fargo Arena tonight. Ophelie... people you talked too say this is huge for the community. Fans I spoke to today say they're excited to have college basketball games right in their backyard. <CLIP 7720 TIME 16:01:10 "YEAH I'M REALLY EXCITED!"> <CLIP 7721 TIME 16:11:52 "I THINK IT'S AWESOME."> <CLIP 7719 TIME 0:24 "I'M REALLY EXCITED."> College basketball fans are pumped that the NCAA Men's College Basketball tournament is coming back to Des Moines. The first and second rounds will be held at Wells Fargo Arena in March of 2028. <CLIP 0255 TIME 14:33:05 "IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A DRAKE BULLDOG."> Drake University will host the tournament. Director of Athletics Brian Hardin says he's thrilled to see the tournament return for the fourth time. <CLIP 0255 TIME 14:34:51 " WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER MARKETS THAT WERE AWARDED, FIRST AND SECOND ROUND SITES THIS YEAR, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF NBA, NHL ARENAS IN BIG CITIES. DES MOINES IS CLEARLY PUNCHING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT CLASS."> Des Moines has a great record of pulling in crowds for the games. Our city has been the first site to sell out for first and second rounds in previous host years. <CLIP 0255 TIME 14:36:25 "WE'VE DONE REALLY, REALLY WELL. WE SELL TICKETS, WE BRING THEM IN, WE BASICALLY SELL OUT AS PART OF THE PRE- SALE. AND I KNOW THE NCAA LIKES THAT."> People already have their eyes set on buying tickets to see the games. Tickets are not on sale yet. <CLIP 7719 TIME 1:44 "I'LL DEFINITELY BE WANTING TO COME TO SOME GAMES."> <CLIP 7721 TIME 16:12:23 "OH YEAH, FOR SURE. I'LL 100% GO."> <CLIP 7720 TIME 16:02:03 " IT'S GREAT. I MEAN, THEY HAD A GREAT TIME LAST TIME. GOOD EXPERIENCE. GET FAN INVOLVEMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, IF THEY IF IT DIDN'T WORK OUT WELL LAST THING, THEY WOULDN'T WANT TO COME BACK. Organizers say they also bid on hosting women's regional basketball and the Division 3 volleyball championships. Des Moines did not get those bids --- but organizers say they'll try keep trying to get selected for those events. Live in Des Moines, Ophelie Jacobson, vlog 8 News, Iowa's News Leader. Des Moines isn't the only city in Iowa announced as an N- C-double-A host site. Ames was picked as a Division One Cross Country regional host site in 20-26. Cedar Rapids will host the Division Three women's basketball finals and the Division Two wrestling finals in 20- 27
March Madness: NCAA Tournament returning to Des Moines in 2028
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Updated: 10:46 PM CDT Oct 2, 2024
Good news, basketball fans.The NCAA Tournament is returning to Des Moines for the fourth time. The NCAA announced hundreds of host sites for various sports over the coming years, including the 2028 men's basketball NCAA Tournament. Wells Fargo Arena will host first and second round matchups that year.Officials with Drake University, the Iowa Events Center, Catch Des Moines and more held a news conference Wednesday afternoon regarding the announcement. "When you look at the other markets that were awarded first and second round sites this year, you've got a lot of NBA, NHL arenas in big cities," Brian Hardin, director of athletics for Drake University, said. "Des Moines is clearly punching above its weight class."Hosting the first and second rounds means Des Moines will be home to eight teams and six games. Exact dates have not yet been announced.Des Moines has also hosted the NCAA Tournament in 2016, 2019 and 2023. Drake University is listed as the host, meaning the Bulldogs would be sent to another location if they are selected for the 2028 NCAA Tournament. Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa would all theoretically be eligible to be selected for Des Moines. WATCH: Full news conference after announcement that Des Moines will host NCAA Tournament games in 2028NCAA Tournament first and second rounds returning to Des Moinesvlog spoke to college basketball fans who said they are already planning to buy tickets to watch some of the games."It's great," DJ Damrow said. "They had a great time last time, good experience, great fan involvement. If it didn't work out last time, they wouldn't want to come back. So I think it says a lot."Ames, Cedar Rapids selected to host NCAA eventsDes Moines isn't the only city in Iowa announced as an NCAA host site.Ames was picked as a Division I cross country regional host site in 2026.Cedar Rapids will host a pair of events in 2027. The Division III women's basketball finals and the Division II wrestling finals were both announced Wednesday for the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids.vlog ON SOCIAL MEDIA:Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter'Glorious, glorious day': Catch Des Moines CEO reacts to news of NCAA Tournament returning to Des MoinesPrevious NCAA Tournament results in Des Moines2016Teams: No. 1 Kansas, No. 16 Austin Peay, No. 8 Colorado, No. 9 Connecticut, No. 5 Indiana, No. 12 Chattanooga, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 13 Stony BrookScores:Kansas 105, Austin Peay 79UConn 74, Colorado 67Indiana 99, Chattanooga 74Kentucky 85, Stony Brook 57Kansas 73, UConn 61Indiana 73, Kentucky 672019Teams: No. 7 Louisville, No. 10 Minnesota, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 15 Bradley, No. 7 Nevada, No. 10 Florida, No. 2 Michigan, No. 15 MontanaScores:Minnesota 86, Louisville 76Michigan State 76, Bradley 65Florida 70, Nevada 61Michigan 74, Montana 55Michigan State 70, Minnesota 50Michigan 64, Florida 492023Teams: No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Penn State, No. 2 Texas, No. 15 Colgate, No. 1 Kansas, No. 16 Howard, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 9 IllinoisScores:Penn State 76, Texas A&M 59Texas 81, Colgate 61Kansas 96, Howard 68Arkansas 73, Illinois 63Texas 71, Penn State 66Arkansas 72, Kansas 71Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly says she thought Des Moines gets to host women's NCAA Tournament
DES MOINES, Iowa — Good news, basketball fans.
The NCAA Tournament is returning to Des Moines for the fourth time.
The NCAA announced hundreds of host sites for various sports over the coming years, including the 2028 men's basketball NCAA Tournament. Wells Fargo Arena will host first and second round matchups that year.
Officials with Drake University, the Iowa Events Center, Catch Des Moines and more held a news conference Wednesday afternoon regarding the announcement.
"When you look at the other markets that were awarded first and second round sites this year, you've got a lot of NBA, NHL arenas in big cities," Brian Hardin, director of athletics for Drake University, said. "Des Moines is clearly punching above its weight class."
Hosting the first and second rounds means Des Moines will be home to eight teams and six games. Exact dates have not yet been announced.
Michael Reaves
Head coach Eric Musselman of the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrates after defeating the Kansas Jayhawks in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Des Moines has also hosted the NCAA Tournament in 2016, 2019 and 2023.
Drake University is listed as the host, meaning the Bulldogs would be sent to another location if they are selected for the 2028 NCAA Tournament. Iowa, Iowa State and Northern Iowa would all theoretically be eligible to be selected for Des Moines.
WATCH: Full news conference after announcement that Des Moines will host NCAA Tournament games in 2028
NCAA Tournament first and second rounds returning to Des Moines
vlog spoke to college basketball fans who said they are already planning to buy tickets to watch some of the games.
"It's great," DJ Damrow said. "They had a great time last time, good experience, great fan involvement. If it didn't work out last time, they wouldn't want to come back. So I think it says a lot."
Ames, Cedar Rapids selected to host NCAA events
Des Moines isn't the only city in Iowa announced as an NCAA host site.
Ames was picked as a Division I cross country regional host site in 2026.
Cedar Rapids will host a pair of events in 2027. The Division III women's basketball finals and the Division II wrestling finals were both announced Wednesday for the Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids.
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'Glorious, glorious day': Catch Des Moines CEO reacts to news of NCAA Tournament returning to Des Moines
Previous NCAA Tournament results in Des Moines
2016
Teams: No. 1 Kansas, No. 16 Austin Peay, No. 8 Colorado, No. 9 Connecticut, No. 5 Indiana, No. 12 Chattanooga, No. 4 Kentucky, No. 13 Stony Brook
Scores:
- Kansas 105, Austin Peay 79
- UConn 74, Colorado 67
- Indiana 99, Chattanooga 74
- Kentucky 85, Stony Brook 57
- Kansas 73, UConn 61
- Indiana 73, Kentucky 67
2019
Teams: No. 7 Louisville, No. 10 Minnesota, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 15 Bradley, No. 7 Nevada, No. 10 Florida, No. 2 Michigan, No. 15 Montana
Scores:
- Minnesota 86, Louisville 76
- Michigan State 76, Bradley 65
- Florida 70, Nevada 61
- Michigan 74, Montana 55
- Michigan State 70, Minnesota 50
- Michigan 64, Florida 49
2023
Teams: No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 10 Penn State, No. 2 Texas, No. 15 Colgate, No. 1 Kansas, No. 16 Howard, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 9 Illinois
Scores:
- Penn State 76, Texas A&M 59
- Texas 81, Colgate 61
- Kansas 96, Howard 68
- Arkansas 73, Illinois 63
- Texas 71, Penn State 66
- Arkansas 72, Kansas 71
Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly says she thought Des Moines gets to host women's NCAA Tournament
