March Madness Getting The Las Vegas Treatment In 2025

The NCAA has revealed that an NCAA tournament men’s basketball regional competition will be held in Las Vegas for the first time in 2025. The Silver State will also host the 2026 hockey final, fondly referred to as the Frozen Four.

The NCAA outlined locations for over 450 host site selections for preliminary rounds and finals of the championships in Divisions I, II, and III in the statement. From 2025, Nevada will be the host for 11 college championship events.

New NCAA policy allows for Nevada to host championship events

For the first time since the NCAA lifted its ban on states that provide legal single-game sports betting, it has chosen locations for championship events. The ban was initially lifted in 2018 on a temporary basis and was entirely abolished a year later.

“Dan Gavitt, the NCAA’s senior vice president of basketball, announced that despite the NCAA’s ongoing efforts to secure federal legislation for improved regulation of sports wagering, especially to protect college sports competitions, they are thrilled to bring their national championships to Las Vegas. He noted that the city has already successfully hosted many championships supported by their member conferences, with teams and fans reporting largely positive experiences. Gavitt also expressed optimism for a similar outcome for their own championships.”

The NCAA has received over 3,000 applications from member schools, conferences, sports commissions, and cities interested in hosting championship events. Among these, many were made by Nevada.

The 2025 men’s Division I basketball regional will mark the first time Nevada hasn’t hosted a major college championship since 1991. The Thomas and Mack Center, located on the UNLV campus, previously hosted a Division I women’s basketball regional.

Sweet 16 and Elite 8 coming to Las Vegas

The NCAA basketball regional rounds of Sweet 16 and Elite 8, part of March Madness, will be held at T-Mobile Arena, located behind New York-New York and adjacent to Park MGM.

Those who triumph in the Sweet 16 will progress to the Elite 8 stage of the NCAA basketball tournament. The victor of the Elite 8 in 2025 will then compete in the Final Four, set to be held at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.

March Madness will go to another level in Las Vegas

One of the busiest weekends in Las Vegas is the first four days of March Madness. This period not only includes the initial four days of the NCAA basketball tournament but also coincides with many colleges’ spring breaks. Furthermore, St. Patrick’s Day sometimes occurs during these events, leading to a massive party in Las Vegas.

During the inaugural weekend of March Madness, basketball enthusiasts and bettors flock to sportsbooks in droves. Some of these sportsbooks even levy a charge exceeding $100 per day for reserving a seat to view the games. Additionally, watch events are arranged by bars, restaurants, and ballrooms, offering packages that may command a price tag in the thousands.

The regionals are set to take place following the hectic March Madness weekend in Las Vegas. Usually, the crowds in Las Vegas are not as large for these games. However, this could change when Las Vegas plays host to the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games.

The audience at the NCAA men’s basketball regionals in Las Vegas will probably vary. The event isn’t just expected to attract gamblers who enjoy betting on 12 hours of college basketball daily. It’s also anticipated to draw fans and families of the teams participating in the regionals.

The 2025 March Madness is set to be an enormous celebration, surpassing the length of all previous NCAA men’s basketball tournaments.

Frozen Four and more

Between 2025 and 2026, Nevada is set to host 11 NCAA events. While the NCAA Men’s Basketball Regional is the highlight, the state will also be the venue for championship events in hockey, golf, soccer, and bowling.

The annual college hockey tournament’s last four competing teams are frequently referred to as the Frozen Four. The T-Mobile Arena will also host this event, which is set to take place in 2026. Numerous other events will occur in Las Vegas prior to this date.

• Bear’s Best: 2025 Division I Regional Men’s Golf Tournament
• South Point wins the 2025 NCAA women’s bowling championship.
• Division I Women’s Golf Regional 2025: Spanish Trail
• The 2025 Division III Men’s Golf Championship will be held at Boulder Creek Golf Club and The Legacy.
• UNLV won the 2025 Division III men’s and women’s soccer championships.
• Boulder Creek Golf Club: 2025 Division II Women’s Golf Championship
• Boulder Creek Golf Club: 2026 Men’s Golf Championships

Two additional NCAA championship events will be hosted by Reno.

• Montrêux Golf & Country Club: 2025 Division I Men’s Golf Championship Regional
• Finals of the 2025 Women’s Bowling Championship at the National Bowling Stadium

Each year, Las Vegas typically hosts several NCAA conference tournaments. Additionally, Allegiant Stadium is set to host future college football championship games.