Spokane continues NCAA run
Spokane has been selected to host first- and second-round games for the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, which means the city will be part of March Madness for three consecutive years.
The NCAA on Thursday announced regional sites for the 2009 and 2010 men’s and women’s tournaments.
Spokane is a site for the 2007 men’s tournament with games March 16 and 18. Tickets are sold out.
Spokane is a host site for a women’s regional in 2008Tickets are still available for that.
The 2009 men’s games to be played in Spokane, with Washington State University again the host school, are scheduled for March 20 and 22.
“We feel we’ve done a good job in hosting the past NCAA events and we are looking forward to hosting three more prestigious events with the Spokane Arena in 2007, 2008 and now 2009,” WSU Assistant Athletics Director for Event and Facilities Operations John David Wicker said in a statement.
The news surprised Spokane Public Facilities Executive Director and Arena general manager Kevin Twohig.
“Sure I am, how could I not be,” he said. “When WSU applied they told us because I have to sign off on it. I can remember thinking ‘great, we’ll throw our hat in the ring and maybe we’ll get it next time.’ Well surprise, surprise.”
“What’s interesting about this is the NCAA actually asked us if we would put in a bid,” Twohig said. “I was flattered. I didn’t think we’d have a shot at it and they told us, ‘You do.’ Sometimes you throw your hat in the ring and it sticks.
“It has developed into a pretty warm relationship on all fronts. I’ve gotten to know the director of basketball championships real well and obviously the people at Washington State. I think everybody really enjoys it. I’m not sure every (site) does, but we really enjoy NCAA championships at the Arena and so do the people at Washington State.”
The Rose Garden in Portland is also a first weekend site in 2009 with games on March 19 and 21.
Other sites for the first two men’s rounds in 2009 are Philadelphia; Miami, Greensboro, N.C.; Minneapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; and Dayton, Ohio. Regionals are in Boston; Memphis, Tenn.; Indianapolis and Glendale, Ariz. The Final Four is in Detroit.
In 2010, opening weekends in the West are at Boise and San Jose, Calif., with regionals in Syracuse, N.Y.; St. Louis, Salt Lake City and Houston with the Final Four in Indianapolis.