T-Mobile Arena landing a men's basketball regional could be a sign of bigger things to comeGETTY IMAGES
The NCAA "has wasted little time in securing a Las Vegas foothold of its own," as the organization "awarded T-Mobile Arena" a '23 men's D-I basketball regional and the '26 Frozen Four, according to Ron Kantowski of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Once viewed as "bitter rivals, the NCAA and Las Vegas are at long last playing ball together." They have "diluted the once-held opinion that college sports could not peacefully coexist in a city where if two birds landed on a fence post, you could legally wager on which would fly away first." In May '19, the NCAA "lifted its ban preventing states that have legal sports wagering from bidding on its championship events." Las Vegas securing a men's basketball regional with a first-time bid "can be viewed as an indication of bigger things to come." For instance, should Indianapolis "ever release its chokehold on the Final Four," Allegiant Stadium "will be ready for an even more massive dose of March Madness under its translucent roof" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 10/15). In Las Vegas, Alan Snel wrote the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority is "trying to recruit more sports to the Las Vegas market." The NCAA "no longer looks at legalized sports gambling as the boogeyman anymore." The market is "rich in world-class sports venues like T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium" (LVSPORTSBIZ.com, 10/14). In addition to Las Vegas, the Frozen Four is headed to Boston (’22), Tampa (’23), St. Paul (’24) and St. Louis (’25) (THE DAILY).
NEW VENUES GETTING LOVE: In Washington, Andrew McIntosh reported Climate Pledge Arena "has been selected to host multiple NCAA men's and women's college basketball championship games" in '23 and '25. The arena was awarded the NCAA D-I women's basketball regionals in '23 and the men's D-I basketball first and second rounds in '25. The 18,100-seat multipurpose arena, slated to open in '21, is "expected to host 200 events each year" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/14). In Sacramento, Cameron Salerno reports the new Railyards Stadium that will be home to Sacramento Republic FC when they move to MLS in '23 "has already landed its first major event." The new venue "will host the Men's College Cup" in '24 and the Women's College Cup in '25 (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/15).
SPREADING THE WEALTH: In Lexington, John Clay notes 43 states plus DC "were selected to host at least one NCAA championship event, with California garnering the most, with 34." Texas was second with 30. Next came North Carolina with 28, Pennsylvania with 27 and Ohio with 25 (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 10/15). In N.J., Carino, Edelson & Falk write after a 14-year hiatus, March Madness "will be returning to New Jersey soil." The Prudential Center in Newark is the "site for the 2025 East Regional." However, fans "won't be able to place a wager on it in the Garden State." New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement spokesperson Leland Moore said, "Under current law, a college game played in New Jersey is not eligible to be wagered on in New Jersey" (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 10/15).
