OAKLAND, CA – For the first time since the inaugural NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 1939, March Madness is coming to the city of San Francisco. The NCAA announced today that the Pac-12 Conference will serve as host of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship West Regional on March 24 & 26, 2022 at Chase Center, the new sports and entertainment venue being built in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood set to open for the start of the 2019-20 NBA Season. This marks the first time the NCAA Tournament will be played within the City of San Francisco since the West Regional was staged at the California Coliseum on Treasure Island in March 1939.
“Chase Center and the surrounding area are going to be a destination for the entire Bay Area and having the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship West Regional at Chase Center in 2022 is great for not only the City of San Francisco, but the entire Bay Area to come see some of the best in college basketball,” said Warriors President and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts. “This is one of the most exciting events on the calendar for sports. We have nine people on our current roster and coaching staff fortunate to have advanced to the Sweet 16 during their college career and we’re excited for this to be the first event officially on our Chase Center schedule.”
Back-to-back NBA MVP and Warriors All-Star guard Stephen Curry, All-Star forward Draymond Green, forwards Matt Barnes, Andre Iguodala, James Michael McAdoo and Kevon Looney, along with Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr and Assistant Coaches Jarron Collins and Bruce Fraser all participated in the Sweet 16 during their collegiate careers.
“There is nothing quite like the NCAA Tournament,” said Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr. “Advancing to the Regional Finals – and eventually the Final Four – was certainly one of the highlights of my college career. It’s exciting to know that Chase Center and the City of San Francisco will play host to this event in 2022. I can assure you there will be memories made that will last a lifetime, both for the players and the fans.”