NCAA Selects Tampa Bay to Host Four Signature Division I Events

TAMPA, FL – On Wednesday, October 14, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that Tampa Bay has been selected as the host site of four major NCAA Championships, which includes the 2023 Division I Men’s Frozen Four, 2023 Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship, 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four and 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds.

In 2023, Tampa Bay will have the unique opportunity to host the Men’s Frozen Four and Women’s Volleyball Championship in the same calendar year, both at Amalie Arena. This marks Tampa Bay’s third time hosting the Men’s Frozen Four (2012, 2016) and second time hosting the Women’s Volleyball Championship (2009).

In 2025, Tampa Bay will welcome the Women’s Final Four back for a record fourth time. Tampa Bay has welcomed more fans in Women’s Final Four history than any other city, with a combined 123,039 fans attending in 2008, 2015 and 2019. In 2019, sellout crowds in Amalie Arena totaled 40,189 fans as the Baylor Lady Bears claimed the national championship.

“The committee was impressed by Tampa Bay’s plan to continue to build and expand upon the student-athlete experience combined with community and legacy programming,” commented Nina King, Senior deputy athletics director and chief of staff at Duke and chair of the Division I Women’s Basketball Committee.  Tampa Bay has been a terrific host city for the Women’s Final Four three times previously, our student-athletes, coaches and fans always enjoy being there and we know that the city and region will continue to raise the bar when we return to South Florida in 2025.”

Finally, in 2026, Tampa Bay welcomes March Madness back to the region when the Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds return to Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay was originally slated to host the Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds this past March; however, the event was unfortunately cancelled due to COVID. 

“While the recent months have been challenging to say the least, Team Tampa Bay’s spirit is unique, unwavering and second to none,” said Rob Higgins, executive director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “We’re beyond grateful to our friends at the NCAA for entrusting us with each of these incredibly special events. Our organization, alongside our tremendous community partners and host institutions, prides itself on our high standard for hosting NCAA Championships and we can’t wait to get to work as we aim to raise the bar even higher. Our hometown’s future has never been brighter.”

"Landing four NCAA signature events is a true testament to Team Tampa Bay and we’re thankful to the NCAA for allowing us the opportunity to host each of them," said Steve Griggs, CEO of Vinik Sports Group. “We’ve worked hard to prove ourselves in the past and now we’re going to work as hard as ever with each of these events to create a world-class experience for the student-athletes and fans.”

NCAA Championships Awarded / Host Institution

• 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Frozen Four (University of Wisconsin)
• 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship (University of South Florida)
• 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four (University of South Florida)
• 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds (University of South Florida)

For a full listing of NCAA Championships awarded during the 2023-2026 Bid Cycle, click here.