Birmingham to Host 2028 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena: What to Expect

Birmingham Selected to Host 2028 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena

Birmingham will host the first and second rounds of the 2028 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) made the announcement on Wednesday, revealing that Birmingham, along with the Southeastern Conference (SEC), was chosen for the big event.

The tournament games will be held from March 16 to March 19, 2028.

The SEC and Knight Eady, a local event management company, submitted a proposal highlighting their experience hosting major events with the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) and the City of Birmingham.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey said, “The Southeastern Conference is excited to host the 2028 tournament and bring top-level basketball to Birmingham. We look forward to working with BJCC and Knight Eady to create a great experience for the players and fans.”

This isn’t Birmingham’s first time hosting such a major event. In 2023, Legacy Arena hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s March Madness tournament, where No. 1 Alabama was one of the teams.

Michael Eady, President of Knight Eady, recalled the 2023 tournament’s success, saying, “We had sellout crowds, and we expect the same in 2025 when we host the NCAA Women’s March Madness Regional.”

Birmingham will also host the 2025 NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional at Legacy Arena from March 28 to March 31, 2025.

Mayor Randall Woodfin expressed the city’s excitement, stating, “We are proud to welcome back the NCAA tournament and show off Birmingham to the teams and fans. Thanks to the SEC and Knight Eady, we’ve been able to host these important championships, and we’re looking forward to keeping that momentum going.”

Birmingham is building on its past successes and looking forward to welcoming even more basketball fans in the years to come.