For only the second time in the last 30 years, men’s NCAA tournament games will be played in Wichita, Kansas. This year, First and Second Rounds of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, which will include three sessions, will take place March 20 and 22 at INTRUST Bank Arena in the city’s core.

“Wichita is elated and ready to once again host NCAA men’s basketball in the Heart of the Country,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita. “In addition to the action fans will see inside INTRUST Bank Arena, there will be tons of fun for locals and visitors to enjoy all around the arena, throughout downtown and in downtown districts such as Old Town and Historic Delano.”

Wichita State University (WSU) will serve as the host, in partnership with Visit Wichita, Sedgwick County and the City of Wichita. The winning bid was secured in 2020.

“We’re thrilled to have an opportunity to host NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds for the second time in eight years,” said Brad Pittman, senior associate athletic director at Wichita State University. “Additionally, it’s great to see so many fun, free fan activities being planned in conjunction with the games. Creating a festive atmosphere for fans to enjoy is not only something the NCAA selection committee values but is also a something the Wichita community can take part in and is a fantastic way to showcase our university and community.”

Session I and II will take place on March 20 and session III will be on March 22. Each session includes two games. Teams, game times and match ups to take place in Wichita will be announced on Sunday, March 16. Single game and all-session tickets are now on sale through Select-A-Seat.

"Since being selected by the NCAA to host another first and second rounds of Division I Men’s Basketball, our entire team at INTRUST Bank Arena, along with our local organizing committee and community partners, have been hard at work preparing to ensure we put our best foot forward in March,” said AJ Boleski, ASM Global Regional General Manager for INTRUST Bank Arena. “We’re thrilled for the opportunity to showcase Sedgwick County and Wichita’s world-class facilities on a national stage.”

While tickets are required to see the games taking place inside the arena, tickets are not required to attend fan activities, collectively being called Fan Central, happening throughout the week. The community will host numerous fan events and other NCAA-related activities, starting Wednesday, March 19, and running through Saturday, March 22. A few key happenings include:

• Open Practice Day, March 19: All eight teams selected to play in Wichita will have a 40-minute practice at INTRUST Bank Arena. The practices are free to attend, and the public is welcome. Doors open at 10 a.m., arena concessions will be available, and the first practice is scheduled at 11 a.m. After watching the teams who will be competing in Wichita, visitors can explore the city’s core. Local shops, restaurants, breweries and more are geared up and looking forward to welcoming fans and Wichitans who want to take part in the excitement.
• Fan Fest, March 20-22: Hosted by the City of Wichita, Fan Fest will take place at Naftzger Park, which will be closed to traffic during those times. Designed to be a fun, festive environment, the event will include food trucks, a live DJ, yard games and more. Sessions 1 and 2 will be played at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 20 and 22, but Fan Fest will be open on Friday, March 21, as well. There will be a large screen playing the tournament games all three days. The event is tentatively scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., depending on game times.
• Other fan experiences: A variety of special fan events are set to take place near the arena. South of the stadium, you’ll find Party Out Front – complete with TVs, food, a mobile bar and VIP Lounges – and pop-up bar Shot Clock at the Railhouse. The ESPN Fan Zone will be situated to the east of Fan Fest in Naftzger Park and will have games playing and the fun flowing. Opening the day after Selection Sunday, March 17, and also March 19-22, enjoy local beer and wood-fired pizzas from Wichita Brewing Co. at the Wichita Brewing Party Garden.

"Whether you have a ticket or not, everyone can help welcome the thousands of basketball fans that will soon be descending on Wichita,” said Santo. “We encourage everyone – locals and visitors – to participate in the fun fan events and enjoy what is sure to be an energetic, basketball-centric atmosphere in downtown Wichita,” said Santo.

Information on fan events, Wichita attractions, restaurants, sports bars, parking and transportation and more can be found at VisitWichita.com/fancentral.

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About Visit Wichita
Visit Wichita markets the Greater Wichita area and advocates for the city as a destination, increasing travel and tourism as a key economic driver for the city, county, region and state. Visit Wichita is led by president and CEO Susie Santo, and in 2024 travel and tourism contributed more than $1.5 billion in economic impact to the greater Wichita area.