The NCAA announced Oct. 14 the Southern Conference and Furman University will co-host NCAA basketball championship preliminary rounds at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville in 2023 and 2026.
Furman and SoCon previously co-hosted the first- and second-round action in the NCAA men’s tournament at the arena.
“It is an enormous privilege to host NCAA basketball championships and together with our partners at Southern Conference, Furman University and VisitGreenvilleSC, we will deliver an incredible experience for student-athletes, fans and NCAA officials, just as we did in 2017,” said Bon Secours Wellness Arena general manager Beth Paul.
The SoCon and Furman will host NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship regionals at the arena in 2023, which is also the first year the women’s tournament will be held at two sites with eight teams competing at each venue. Bon Secours Wellness Arena will also be the home of the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2026.
“This marks the fifth time Greenville has been awarded an NCAA event since 2017, and we’re ready to ‘run it back’ and do it again,” VisitGreenvilleSC vice president of sales David Montgomery said. “Bigger, bolder, together. Not only are these exciting wins, they’re a slam dunk for economic impact. The combined 2023 and 2026 events will bring 16 teams to the Upstate from across the country with an estimated 26,000 attendees and $11.7 million of direct spending to Greenville.”
The Bon Secours Wellness Arena will also welcome first- and second-round action in the NCAA men’s tournament in 2022.
