Fun Fact: UD Arena has hosted more NCAA® Tournaments than any other venue in the nation!
There's no denying it, Dayton is a basketball mecca! March is here and that means basketball madness returns to Dayton. In 2026, Dayton will proudly welcome and host the NCAA® First Four® Tournament (March 17 & 18), the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Girls Basketball State Tournament (March 12-14) and the OHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament (March 19-22), as well as community events coordinated by The Big Hoopla and held in conjunction with the NCAA® First Four® games.
Read on to learn more about all these exciting events and how you can be part of March Madness in Dayton!
NCAA® First Four®
The Dayton region is the Epicenter of College Basketball, and fans from around the country know that THE ROAD STARTS HERE™! March Madness is alive and well in Dayton - we look forward to welcoming the NCAA® First Four® Tournament back to UD Arena this year!
There will be two games in each session (night), on March 17 & 18, and the winners of each game will advance on the road to the Final Four®. We can guarantee the games will played in front of packed houses at UD Arena, where the energy is always electric!
Tuesday, March 17
Teams and time TBD
Wednesday, March 18
Teams and time TBD
Get your game tickets now, because the First Four® tournament will sell out!
The Big Hoopla
In Dayton, college basketball holds a special place in our hearts; get ready for the The Big Hoopla to return to Dayton in 2026. Since 2012, The Big Hoopla has showcased Dayton’s collaborative spirit, basketball unity and affinity for our military heroes serving locally and around the world. The First Four® NCAA® Basketball Tournament presents a tremendous opportunity to come together as a community, and as a country, to celebrate the great things that can be accomplished with teamwork, dedication, and a shared goal. Join in on the fun by participating in these community activities.
Hoopla 4 Miler
Here in Dayton, it's about more than just basketball, it’s four full days of activities and the first of all those events is the Big Hoopla 4 Miler. On Selection Sunday, March 15, the day begins with a 4-mile run that starts and finishes near the Wright State University Student Union. The scenic course winds through Wright State's Campus, offering beautiful views along the way, including the Biology Preserve and the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library.
All participants receive a super soft tech tee, a custom finisher medal, free race photos, and tons of post-race food. Registration is open now for $35, with prices increasing after February 28. The race kicks off at 10 a.m. The top three overall male and female runners will receive a CASH PRIZE, and the top three finishers in each age group will receive two (2) tickets to the NCAA First Four® at UD Arena on March 17 & 18, 2026. Register online for the race.
Hoopla STEM Challenge
Ready to learn and have fun - all for free?! Do your kids wanna shoot some hoops? On Sunday, March 15, bring your family to participate in a FREE basketball ‘hot shot’ and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education contest with prizes awarded for each shot made! The event is open to boys and girls grades K–8 and will take place at the Wright State University Nutter Center.
The event ties together the excitement and passion for college basketball to the power of STEM education. Regional and national partners will be on-site to engage students with hands-on science, technology, engineering and math demonstrations, as well as two fun, 45 minute shows with award-winning science entertainer Mister C and performances by Eric Energy. Registration is free and opens at 11 a.m. The Opening Ceremony and exhibits begin at 12 p.m., followed by the Hot Shot Finals at 4:30 p.m. before the event concludes at 5 p.m.
OHSAA Basketball State Tournaments
As if the NCAA® First Four® Tournament wasn't exciting enough, Dayton, UD Arena, and Wright State Nutter Center will also host the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Girls and Boys Basketball State Tournaments in March! The state's high school basketball elite will battle it out to see who will be named OHSAA Girls & Boys State Basketball Champion! Don't miss the action.
2024 OHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament, March 12-14
Thursday, March 12 (State Semifinals)
Division III: 11 a.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division IV: 12 p.m. at UD Arena
Division VI: 5 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division I: 6 p.m. at UD Arena
Friday, March 13 (State Semifinals)
Division VII: 11 a.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division II: either 5 p.m. at Vandalia Butler or 6 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division V: either 5 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center or 6 p.m. at Vandalia Butler
Friday, March 13 (State Championships)
Division IV: 12:30 p.m. at UD Arena
Division III: 3:45 p.m. at UD Arena
Division VI: 7 p.m. at UD Arena
Saturday, March 14 (State Championships)
Division VII: 10:45 a.m. at UD Arena
Division V: 2 p.m. at UD Arena
Division II: 5:15 p.m. at UD Arena
Division I: 8:30 p.m. at UD Arena
Girls Basketball all-session reserved semi-final tickets are $70 each, while all-session reserved finals tickets are $110 each. Single-session tickets for the Girls Basketball State Tournament are $18 for adults and $10 for students. Multi-session packages and premium seating online. Reserved seating is ONLY at University of Dayton Arena. Wright State Nutter Center is all General Admission seating. All tickets may be purchased at the OHSAA ticketing website.
2024 OHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament, March 19-22
Thursday, March 19 (State Semifinals)
Division IV: 12 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division III: 6 p.m. at UD Arena
Friday, March 20 (State Semifinals)
Division V: 10:45 a.m. at UD Arena
Division VII: 12 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Friday, March 20 (State Championships)
Division IV: 4:15 p.m. at UD Arena
Division III: 7:30 p.m. at UD Arena
Saturday, March 21 (State Semifinals)
Division II: 11 a.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Division I: 5:30 p.m. at Wright State Nutter Center
Saturday, March 21 (State Championships)
Division V: 1 p.m. at UD Arena
Division VII: 4:15 p.m. at UD Arena
Sunday, March 22 (State Championships)
Division II: 12 p.m. at UD Arena
Division I: 3:15 p.m. at UD Arena
Boys Basketball all-session reserved semi-final tickets are $70 each, while all-session reserved finals tickets are $110 each. Single-session tickets for the Boys Basketball State Tournament are $18 for adults and $10 for students. Multi-session packages and premium seating online. Reserved seating is ONLY at University of Dayton Arena. Wright State Nutter Center is all General Admission seating. All tickets may be purchased at the OHSAA ticketing website.
All ticket prices include parking fees. The University of Dayton Arena is a cashless facility. Tailgating and overnight parking are not permitted.
Destination Dayton encourages you to get out and enjoy March Madness in person - there's nothing like the energy and excitement of a live sporting event! Check back here and on the First Four® page of our website for additional information and updates.
If you're traveling to Dayton from out of town for the tournaments, you can find hotel and restaurant listings on our website to help plan your stay. Be sure to also check out the calendar of events, attractions and things to do sections of our website, so that you can explore and make the most of your time in Dayton! You can also download our FREE Visit Dayton App and Destination Dayton Visitors Guide, to have all this information right at your fingertips! Feel free to call us at 937-226-8211 (Monday-Friday) if you have questions about planning your March Madness visit.
