March Madness, the much-anticipated college basketball tournament, is right around the corner. Fans are eager to see which team will rise to the top in what is often considered the most exciting event in college sports. With this anticipation comes many questions, one of the most common being, “When does March Madness start?”
Before we delve into specifics, let’s understand what March Madness is about. This annual college basketball tournament is organized by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). The game involves 68 teams over three weeks in a single-elimination format. The excitement and unpredictability of the matches have earned the tournament its “madness” moniker.
When Does March Madness Start?
The official kickoff of the March Madness season is marked by Selection Sunday. The day is when the participating teams and their respective seeds are announced. Basketball enthusiasts across the globe eagerly await this event. For 2024, you can mark your calendars for Sunday, March 17.
The Selection Sunday of 2024
On March 17, the basketball world will come alive with the excitement of Selection Sunday. The event will be broadcast on CBS at 6 p.m. ET and will reveal the 2024 NCAA Tournament brackets.
The Start of March Madness 2024
The action begins with the First Four games on March 19 and 20. The matches will be held in Dayton, Ohio. From there, the tournament will continue for nearly three exhilarating weeks, with back-to-back thrilling matches.
March Madness 2024: Key Dates
As we approach the tournament, here are the crucial dates for both men’s and women’s tournaments:
Men’s Tournament
-
- First Four: Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20
- First Round: Thursday, March 21, and Friday, March 22
- Second Round: Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24
- Sweet 16: Wednesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 29
- Elite Eight: Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31
- Final Four: Saturday, April 6
- National Championship: Monday, April 8
Women’s Tournament
-
- First Four: Wednesday, March 20 and Thursday, March 21
- First Round: Friday, March 22 and Saturday, March 23
- Second Round: Sunday, March 24 and Monday, March 25
- Sweet 16: Thursday, March 29, and Friday, March 30
- Elite Eight: Sunday, March 31 and Monday, April 1
- Final Four: Friday, April 5
- National Championship: Sunday, April 7
Where Will The Madness Unfold? The 2024 Locations
The 2024 March Madness games will be hosted in various arenas nationwide. Let’s look at the hosting cities and venues for the tournament action:
Men’s Tournament
| Round | City | Venue | Dates | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
First Four |
Dayton, Ohio |
UD Arena |
March 19-20 |
University of Dayton |
|
First/Second |
Brooklyn, N.Y. |
Barclays Center |
March 22-23 |
Atlantic 10 Conference |
|
First/Second |
Charlotte, N.C. |
Spectrum Center |
March 21-23 |
University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
|
First/Second |
Indianapolis |
Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
March 22-24 |
IUPUI/ Horizon League |
|
First/Second |
Omaha, Neb. |
CHI Health Center |
March 21-23 |
Creighton University |
|
First/Second |
Pittsburgh |
PPG Paints Arena |
March 21-23 |
Duquesne University |
|
First/Second |
Salt Lake City |
Vivint Smart Home Arena |
March 21-23 |
University of Utah |
|
First/Second |
Spokane, Wash. |
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena |
March 22-24 |
University of Idaho |
|
First/Second |
Memphis, Tenn. |
FedEx Forum |
March 22-24 |
University of Memphis |
|
East Regional |
Boston |
TD Garden |
March 28-30 |
Boston College |
|
South Regional |
Dallas |
American Airlines Center |
March 29-31 |
Big 12 Conference |
|
Midwest Regional |
Detroit |
Little Caesars Arena |
March 29-31 |
University of Detroit Mercy/ Oakland University |
|
West Regional |
Los Angeles |
Crypto.com Arena |
March 28-30 |
Pepperdine University |
|
Final Four |
Phoenix |
State Farm Stadium |
April 6-8 |
Arizona State |
Women’s Tournament
| Round | City | Venue | Dates | Host |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sweet 16/ Elite Eight |
Albany, N.Y. |
Times Union Center |
March 29- April 1 |
MAAC |
|
Sweet 16/ Elite Eight |
Portland, Ore. |
Moda Center |
March 29- April 1 |
Oregon State |
|
Final Four |
Cleveland |
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |
April 5 & 7 |
Mid-American Conference, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission |
Basketball fans, prepare yourselves for an exciting season of college basketball. Whether in Dayton, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, or anywhere, the magic of March Madness is almost here.
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