DAYTON — The NCAA extended its partnership with the University of Dayton by keeping the First Four at UD Arena through at least 2026.
UD Arena has been host to the first games of the NCAA men’s Division 1 basketball tournament since 2001, a UD athletics spokesperson said in a media release.
“We are about two things when it comes to hosting the NCAA tournament – a championship experience for the student-athletes and teams involved, and capacity crowds to ignite the tournament and present our community in the best possible light,” UD Director of Athletics Neil Sullivan said in the release.
“We appreciate that the NCAA has entrusted all of us in the Dayton region with this responsibility. It is not something that we take lightly.”
To date, UD Arena has hosted 125 Division 1 basketball games, which is the more than any other venue in the country, according to the NCAA and UD.