March Madness Expansion: Wichita Hosts
NCAA Expands Men's Tournament to 76 Teams, Wichita Named Opening-Round Host for 2027-2028
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Key Points
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The opening-round in the expanded 76-team field will feature 24 teams—the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams—divided between Wichita and Dayton.
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The NCAA committee voted to remove a provision that prohibited schools from playing at sites where they serve as a tournament host, allowing host schools to compete at their own sites in the opening round.
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In Wichita, the opening rounds will be played at InTrust Bank Arena (also shown as Intrust Bank Arena), a downtown venue roughly five miles from Wichita State University and a site that previously hosted NCAA first- and second-round games in 2018 and 2025.
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The move to 76 teams and the related hosting plan were approved in May, setting the framework for Wichita and Dayton to host the expanded opening round in 2027 and 2028.
The NCAA is expanding March Madness from 68 to 76 teams — and Wichita, Kansas, is getting a prime role in the new format. The Score reported that Wichita will host half of the expanded Opening Round games in 2027 and 2028, sharing duties with longtime host city Dayton, Ohio.
Wichita will hold six games per year at INTRUST Bank Arena, a downtown venue roughly five miles from Wichita State University. The first games are set for March 16–17, 2027 — the Tuesday and Wednesday following Selection Sunday.
How the 76-Team Opening Round Will Work
The expanded tournament adds eight teams to the field. The new Opening Round will feature 24 teams total. Those teams are the 12 lowest-seeded automatic qualifiers and the 12 lowest-seeded at-large teams, according to ESPN Sioux Falls. The winners advance to the traditional first round.
Wichita and Dayton each host six games — three on Tuesday, three on Wednesday. That adds up to 12 opening-round games across the two cities. KMBC noted the NCAA approved the expansion and the hosting framework in May, locking in both cities for at least two years.
Wichita's Basketball Credentials Made It a Natural Pick
INTRUST Bank Arena is no stranger to the NCAA Tournament. The downtown Wichita venue previously hosted first- and second-round games in 2018 and 2025. Its track record gave the NCAA confidence in the city's ability to run a smooth event.
NCAA committee chair Keith Gill praised Wichita's basketball culture. He also pointed to its location in the heart of the country as a key factor. Having a city in Middle America makes it easier to attract teams from all directions — especially since no one knows which teams are coming until Selection Sunday.
NCAA Scraps Rule That Blocked Host Schools From Playing at Home
The NCAA also quietly changed a key hosting rule. Previously, schools could not play at a tournament site where they served as a host. That prohibition is now gone. The Score confirmed the committee voted to remove it, opening the door for host schools to compete at their own arenas in the Opening Round.
For Wichita State, this matters. The Shockers play just five miles from INTRUST Bank Arena. Under the old rule, they could not have played there as a host school. The change could set up a rare home-crowd advantage in a future tournament.
Dayton Keeps Its Crown, Wichita Joins the Club
Dayton has hosted the NCAA Tournament's early rounds for decades. It is one of the most beloved stops in college basketball. Now Wichita joins that small group of cities trusted to launch the tournament each year. Winnipeg Free Press noted both cities will host six games apiece through at least 2028.
For Wichita, the deal is more than just a sporting event. It brings national attention — and revenue — to a mid-sized Midwestern city. With 12 combined games across two cities and a bigger field than ever, March Madness in 2027 will look different than anything fans have seen before.
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