2021 NCAA Tournament: Some March Madness dates change as full schedule and venues are set

Take your calendar and a pen, as the official 2021 NCAA tournament dates have just landed. The NCAA on Tuesday announced its full preliminary round information, including locations, for this year’s March Madness, revealing that the official start date will be a Thursday as opposed to its normal start date on Tuesday.

The first four games will start on Thursday March 18, followed by the first round on Friday March 19 and Saturday March 20. Almost all games before the Final Four should take place later than they usually do in a normal year. As expected, the national title match will take place on the first Monday in April – April 5 – with Lucas Oil Stadium as the host.

Fifty-five of the tournament’s 67 games this year will be held in Indiana, with Mackey Arena, Assembly Hall, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indiana Farmers Coliseum and Lucas Oil Stadium hosting all first round games. Indy’s four venues will serve as venues for the remainder of the Championship – including the second round matches – which take place on Sunday March 21 and Monday March 22.

It’s not a massive overhaul of the NCAA tournament format this year, but it’s definitely an adjustment. This is the first time that we’ll have to wait until Thursday for NCAA tournament games to begin after selection on Sunday, and it is the first time that all games will be predominantly held in one city, with Indy logistically being the option. most judicious because of its myriad of places. Here’s a look at the timeline and how it breaks down.

2021 NCAA Tournament Schedule

SUNDAY, MARCH 14 – Selection Sunday

THURSDAY, MARCH 18 – First four (2)

• Mackey Arena in West Lafayette
• Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington

FRIDAY-SATURDAY MARCH 19-20 – First round (1)

• Mackey Arena in West Lafayette
• Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington
• Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis
• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 21-22 – Second round (1)

• Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis
• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

SATURDAY-SUNDAY MARCH 27-28 – Sweet 16 (2)

• Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
• Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis

MONDAY-TUESDAY 29-30 MARCH – Elite Eight (2)

• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

SATURDAY 3 APRIL – Final Four

• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

MONDAY 5 APRIL – National Championship

• Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis

The number in parentheses corresponds to the number of days after the dates previously planned