Providence Selected to Host 2016 NCAA Hoops Tournament

Providence has been chosen to host preliminary rounds of the 2016 NCAA men's basketball tournament.

The NCAA announced Monday that Rhode Island's capital city is one of 10 cities that will host the tournament's first and second rounds. The games will be played at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 17 and March 19.

The last time NCAA tournament games were held in Providence was 2010. In that year, the games brought in an estimated $3.5 million to the local economy.

The Providence Convention and Visitors Bureau says it is setting up a host committee to plan special events surrounding the tournament.

Preliminary Round (Rounds 1 & 2) Locations

• Providence, RI: Dunkin Donuts Center (Host: Providence College)
• Des Moines, IA: Wells Fargo Arena (Host: Iowa State University)
• Raleigh, NC: PNC Arena (Host: North Carolina State University)
• Denver, CO: Pepsi Center (Host: Mountain West Conference)
• Brooklyn, NY: Barclays Center (Host: Atlantic 10 Conference)
• St. Louis, MO: Scottrade Center (Host: Missouri Valley Conference)
• Oklahoma City, OK: Chesapeake Energy Arena (Host: Big 12 Conference)
• Spokane, WA: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena (Host: University of Idaho)

Regional Round Locations

• Midwest Regional: United Center - Chicago, IL (Host: Big Ten Conference)
  
• West Regional: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA (Host: Big West Conference)
  
• East Regional: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA (Host: La Salle University)
  
• South Regional: KFC Yum Center, Louisville, Kentucky, (Host: University of Louisville)

Final Four Location

• Houston, TX: NRG Stadium (Hosts: Rice University, University of Houston)

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