Preliminary round March Madness tickets have successful presale

INDIANAPOLIS — Tickets for the preliminary rounds of the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship went on sale to the general public last week resulting in sales for all sites totaling nearly 39,000 after Oct. 13. While tickets still remain available for most of the regional sites, the ticket inventory for the East and West regional sites, located in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, were sold out.

“We are very pleased with how the opening weekend of sales went, particularly at the four regional sites,” said Dan Gavitt, vice president for the Division I men’s basketball championship. “Washington, D.C., was selected to host the East Regional in May, so for tickets to be gone already is certainly remarkable. The tournament hasn’t been to Los Angeles since 1994, but it’s obvious there’s an appetite for the games with the West Regional being sold out as well. The North Texas and Indianapolis regional sites haven’t recorded sellouts as of yet, but ticket sales at the site of those two future Final Four venues have been strong, too.”

Tickets are still available for the First Four, which takes place in Dayton, Ohio, March 19 and 20. Dayton also is serving as a second- and third-round host, with games taking place March 22 and 24. Other second- and third-round sites include Auburn Hills, Mich.; Lexington, Ky.; Salt Lake City; and San Jose, Calif. (March 21 and 23); and Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; and Philadelphia (March 22 and 24). Fans should visit www.ncaa.com/mbbtickets to purchase tickets.

“These cities were selected in large part because of their history of hosting the men’s basketball championship and it is a fitting inclusion with our celebration of 75 years of March Madness,” Gavitt said. “Between the great venues, locations and affordable prices for the premiere basketball event in the country, we’re thrilled that fans are buying tickets at this rate.”