La Salle and Boise State play in a First Four game final March in Dayton (Getty Photos)
Even although Dayton has enthusiastically supported the NCAA match’s play-in round since its inception, the town is not guaranteed to remain the host site for the First Four past 2015.
The NCAA rejected a proposal from the College of Dayton that may have stored the event within the metropolis for years to return, opting as a substitute to allow other cities to bid on the rights to host the First Four from 2016-18 as nicely. Dayton stays a strong candidate to win the bid, however the NCAA’s place suggests it is critical about considering other choices.
There’s no hurt in the NCAA exploring different potential host websites, however the group could be wise not to discount the large crowds, constant media coverage and spirited welcome receptions Dayton provides.
The First Four already carries sufficient of a stigma as the play-in round to qualify for the round of 64. It would solely heighten that if the games occurred in entrance of sparse crowds in a disinterested host metropolis.
There are other promising options for the NCAA, nevertheless, if it decides to uproot the First Four from Dayton.
It might rotate the First 4 amongst comparable mid-sized cities with a historical past of supporting college basketball, like Omaha or Kansas City for instance. It may home the First 4 in a unique historic basketball area each year such as the Palestra in Philadelphia or Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Or it could abandon the concept of a number metropolis altogether and play every individual recreation in the arena the place the winner would play its spherical of 64 game two days later.
All of those are viable prospects and worthy of consideration. Nonetheless, the NCAA has a superb thing going with the tradition it has in-built Dayton, and it might not be sensible to mess with that.
NCAA needs to be cautious about moving First Four out of Dayton
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