The NCAA News - News and Features

July 20, 1998

Men's Basketball Committee to select sites for preliminary rounds

The selection process of preliminary-round sites for the 2002 and 2003 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championships is underway.

Facility specifications and availability questionnaires for 2002 and 2003 have been mailed to Division I directors of athletics and conference commissioners. 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 August 31. Minimum seating capacity is 12,000.

In September, a subcommittee of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee will review the results of all questionnaires and specifications agreements. In October, the committee will select "finalist" cities and will request more detailed information including proposed budgets from them. In late December, the basketball committee will forward its 2002 and 2003 site recommendations to the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet for consideration. To be eligible for selection, a facility must be operational before May 1, 1999.

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta and the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans will host the 2002 and 2003 Final Fours, respectively. The committee has already selected hosts for all sessions of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 championships.