Greater Raleigh Awarded Eight Future NCAA Championship Events

Raleigh will host its first NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Regional in 2028, and the Town of Cary will host six more national championship events across three sports. Those were the highlights of today’s NCAA announcement on future championship host sites spanning academic years 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Eight championship and regional events were awarded to the Greater Raleigh area, including a Division I Men's Basketball Regional in 2028 at Lenovo Center (formerly PNC Arena) to be hosted by North Carolina State University (NC State). Additionally, the Town of Cary will be home to four NCAA College Cups as well as the Division II Baseball World Series over two years.

This will mark the fifth time Raleigh and Lenovo Center have hosted March Madness since 2004 (most recently in 2016). Raleigh was also scheduled to host in 2021, but those games were relocated when the NCAA consolidated the entire tournament in Indianapolis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to Men’s Basketball, NC State was also awarded Division I Women’s Gymnastics in 2027 at Reynolds Coliseum.

The University of North Carolina (UNC) will serve as the host institution for four College Cups, while the University of Mount Olive (UMO) is the official host school for the Division II World Series. UMO has hosted every Division II World Series played in Cary, totaling 14 World Series dating back to 2009.

The Town of Cary was awarded six national championships – two Women’s College Cups, two Men’s College Cups and two Division II Baseball World Series. Cary has hosted 38 NCAA national championships since 2003 and will welcome three more championships during the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, bringing the total to 41.

Greater Raleigh has hosted a total of 77 NCAA championship events since 2000, according to research by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA).

Overall, the state of North Carolina was awarded 17 future championships, tied for fourth-most in the nation.

NC State University was awarded the following championships:

• 2027 Division I Women’s Gymnastics Regional at Reynolds Coliseum
• 2028 Division I Men’s Basketball Regional at Lenovo Center

The Town of Cary was awarded the following national championships:

• 2026 and 2027 Division I Women’s Soccer College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park (Host: UNC)
• 2026 and 2027 Division I Men’s Soccer College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park (Host: UNC)
• 2027 and 2028 Division II Baseball World Series at USA Baseball National Training Complex (Host: UMO)

“We are thrilled with today’s news that the NCAA has awarded eight future championships to Greater Raleigh during this latest bid process,” said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance. “Our region has a long history of successfully hosting NCAA championships, and our track record is reflected in this announcement.”

“It’s always an honor to host NCAA championships. It’s an opportunity that we never take for granted because, as everyone knows, this process is incredibly competitive. Greater Raleigh is known nationally as a premier championship destination, and today’s site selections only reinforce that well-earned reputation.

“But more than anything else, today is about our partners. None of this would be possible without our superb host partners. We want to thank each of them. NC State, the Town of Cary, UNC and UMO submitted the majority of our bids. Each has a sterling reputation for hosting NCAA events. Our region is fortunate to have such wonderful partners who are really good at what they do … in this instance, hosting major events and championships. They are the key to this entire process. And we certainly can’t forget the Lenovo Center which has, over the years, clearly established itself in the eyes of the NCAA as a premier venue for March Madness and will now host a Men’s Basketball Regional. The folks at Gale Force roll out the red carpet for NCAA basketball, and no venue is better as a tournament host.”