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Des Moines lands men's NCAA tournament games in 2028

Wells Fargo Arena has hosted NCAA Tournament games in 2016, 2019 and 2023.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines will host men's 2028 March Madness games at Wells Fargo Arena, the NCAA announced on Wednesday.

"It is a glorious, glorious day once again for Des Moines, Iowa, we call it a four peat," said Greg Edwards, CEO of Catch Des Moines.

Iowa's capital city will host games for the first and second rounds in March 2028 after welcoming in the NCAA Tournament in 2016, 2019 and 2023.

Catch Des Moines says the event is estimated to bring in around $4.3 million to the local economy, and bring around 20,000 people to the metro. 

Hosting March Madness is a goal that organizers had in mind years ago.

"When we built this in 2001, I had a lot of negativity surrounding me, saying, why would you build such an arena so big" said Angela Connolly, Board Chair of the Polk County Board of Supervisors. "And I said, because we're going to host a NCAA. Why else? And now we get to do it four times."

The NCAA got over 1,200 bids to be a host site for the highly anticipated event, and that list came down to 240 host sites, with Des Moines being one of them.

"I can tell you from having seen it firsthand at other host sites and also seeing what happens here in Des Moines, it does not come as a huge surprise that Des Moines got to host it for a fourth time," said Brian Hardin, Director of Athletics at Drake University. 

The list of host sites is one Iowa's capital city is proud to be part of.

"Des Moines is clearly punching above its weight class," Hardin said, "So to be able to kind of see what that means for the recognition that the NCAA said, what Des Moines does in terms of putting on an event, we are an event town."

"Thank you to Catch Des Moines, Drake Athletics, and Polk County Iowa for your partnership in bringing this event back to the best host site! The Madness is coming back to Des Moines!" a social media post reads.

Drake University and the Des Moines Area Sports Commission are listed as the hosts, meaning the Bulldogs would  not be able to play in their hometown if they qualify for the tournament.

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨 For the fourth time, Des Moines has been selected as a host site for the 2028 NCAA Division I Men’s...

Posted by Wells Fargo Arena on Wednesday, October 2, 2024

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