Indy wins bid to host NCAA hoops regional, other postseason events

Indianapolis on Tuesday has won another bid to host a NCAA men’s basketball regional in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The NCAA on Tuesday announced the final host sites for 84 of 90 championships for the 2017-18 through 2021-22 seasons after receiving more than 3,000 bid applications.

Indiana organizations statewide won bids to host 41 NCAA championship events in cross-country, basketball, fencing, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming and diving, and track and field. 

Indianapolis also won bids to host NCAA tournament events in swimming and diving and rowing.

Indianapolis will host the 2020 NCAA hoops regional. The event is projected to have an economic impact of $15 million to $20 million for the city, according to multiple sources.

The city hosted first and second round games this year in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Lucas Oil Stadium last hosted a regional—the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight games—in 2013.

That year, the stadium got mixed reviews for its regional setup, with the basketball court at one end of the football field and running perpendicular, with part of the stadium curtained off.

In addition to the men’s basketball regional, Indianapolis also won bids to host the following:

— 2019 Division II Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium

— 2019 Division I, II and III Women’s Rowing Championships at the Indianapolis Rowing Center at Eagle Creek Park

— 2020 Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship at the IUPUI Natatorium