The Division I Men's Basketball Committee finalized the specifications for prospective hosts of 2006 first-/second-round sessions at its meeting May 7-9 in New Orleans, the site of the 2003 Men's Final Four.

The committee will e-mail the specifications and a facility-availability questionnaire to all Division I athletics directors and conference commissioners in early June. Interested institutions that do not receive the e-mail may request a hard copy from Kelly Kaufman (317/917-6490 or kkaufman@ncaa.org) at the NCAA national office.

Institutions and conferences interested in serving as hosts should return the completed questionnaire and specifications-agreement forms to William R. Hancock, director of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship-Administration, at the national office no later than July 12, 2002. Minimum seating capacity is 12,000.

In August, a subcommittee of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee will review the responses and will select "finalist" cities. Those cities will be asked to submit proposed budgets and hotel confirmations.

In late December, the basketball committee will forward its 2006 site recommendations to the Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet for consideration.

To be eligible for selection, a facility must be operational before May 1, 2003.The RCA Dome in Indianapolis will host the 2006 Final Four. The committee already has selected hosts for all sessions of the 2003, 2004 and 2005 championships.

The committee also conducted a preliminary review of the new "pods" bracketing system at its meeting, agreeing that it had succeeded in allowing more teams to play closer to home during the 2002 championship. During its June meeting, the committee will continue to review that system, as well as all other aspects of the championship.

Other highlights

Division I Men's Basketball Committee
May 7-9/New Orleans

Reviewed a number of items with the National Association of Basketball Coaches' board of directors, including officiating; selections, seeding and bracketing; and coaches' obligations during the tournament.

Reaffirmed the current policy requiring each institution participating in a first-/second-round session to purchase 350 tickets.

Voted to increase the number of "pool" tickets available to each team at a first-/second-round session from 100 to 200, starting with the 2003 championship.

Conducted a preliminary review of the specifications for prospective hosts of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 Final Fours. In September, the committee will mail the specifications and a questionnaire to all sites that meet the requirements, which include a 40,000-seat competition venue and about 9,000 first-class hotel rooms within a 20-mile radius of the facility. In December 2002, the committee will chose a group of "finalist" cities. The committee will select the sites in June, 2003.

Reviewed evaluations of the 14 tournament sites from 2002.