Buffalo's KeyBank Center is hosting NCAA Tournament games this weekend, and organizers "also want to bring back" the Frozen Four in the future, according to James Fink of BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST. MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor and city leaders will be "pitching the NCAA next month on a return engagement with the Frozen Four." Ensor said that they will also be "pitching to the NCAA site selection committee about bringing back another round of men’s basketball in the coming years." The NCAA is "considering several cities to host the Frozen Four" in '20, '21 and '22. Chicago and Minneapolis are the "next two Frozen Four host sites" in '17 and '18. Buffalo hosted the '03 Frozen Four and "sold out the arena for all three games." In recent years, Frozen Fours in Tampa and Pittsburgh "did not sell out." Ensor said that the "influx of new hotels has helped Buffalo’s image and reputation" with influential NCAA and amateur sports organizations. He added that Buffalo’s support of the IIHF World Juniors later this year could be a "swing factor in again landing the Frozen Four." For the '11 World Juniors, Buffalo "sold a record 330,000 tickets for the tournament." Advance ticket sales for this year’s competition, including the Dec. 29 USA-Canada outdoor game at New Era Field, are "very strong" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/14).
