Pittsburgh, Pa. – Duquesne University has been selected to host the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Round games in 2027 at
PPG Paints Arena, it was announced
today by the NCAA. The announcement, which marks the eighth time Duquesne will serve as host for the first and second rounds, came as part of the unveiling of championship sites for the 2026-28 bid cycle.
Duquesne and
SportsPITTSBURGH were also selected to host the 2027 NCAA Women's Bowling Championship at
AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. The Dukes have hosted a pair of NCAA Women's Bowling Regionals (2023, 2024) at the venue and will host two more (2025, 2026) before hosting a national championship for the first time in 2027.
"Owning the ability to showcase the Pittsburgh region through NCAA Championships thanks to a continued strong partnership with
VisitPITTSBURGH and SportsPITTSBURGH is something that Duquesne University and its athletics department is extremely proud of," Duquesne Vice President of Athletics
Dave Harper said. "The relationships we've built with both PPG Paints Arena as well as AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes and the success we've had in hosting past championships allows Duquesne University to continue to provide a world-class experience for the programs that are chosen to come to Pittsburgh as well as its student-athletes and fans."
The basketball announcement marks the sixth time in 16 years that PPG Paints Arena will serve as a host venue and the eighth time the City of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University has been chosen to host the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Duquesne hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship first and second round games in 1997 and 2002 at Mellon Arena as well as the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship first and second round games in 2018, 2022 and 2024 at PPG Paints Arena. In 2012 and 2015, Duquesne hosted the renamed NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Second and Third Round games at PPG Paints Arena.
Tuesday's announcement comes on the heels of Duquesne hosting the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds at PPG Paints Arena in March, which saw North Carolina State advance out of the South Region and Creighton move on in the Midwest Region. A total of 55,846 fans attended the three sessions of games, including an upset win for No. 14 seed Oakland over No. 3 seed Kentucky, 80-76, due in large part to 10 three-pointers from Jack Gohlke of the Golden Grizzlies, a total that established a PPG Paints Arena record.
The bowling announcement marks the first time Duquesne will serve as host of the NCAA Bowling Championship. AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes has hosted a regional each of the last two years, with Nebraska advancing in 2023 with a 2-0 win over Stephen F. Austin while in 2024 Jacksonville State defeated Duquesne, 2-1. The Gamecocks went on to claim the 2024 NCAA Championship in Allen Park, Mich., at Thunderbowl Lanes. Duquesne will also host a regional at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes in both 2025 and 2026.
In addition to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Round games and NCAA Bowling Championship in 2027 that Duquesne will host, the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse will serve a two-year residency as the venue for the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship in 2027 and 2028 as well as the NCAA Division III Finals in women's volleyball in 2026 and men's volleyball in 2028. Each of those events are hosted by the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) and SportsPITTSBURGH.
"Duquesne University holds a tradition of excellence and commitment to delivering the best championship experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans through hosting NCAA Championships," Harper said. "Our team and partners possess an unwavering sense of appreciation for the ability to host an NCAA Championship, whether it be locally at various venues in the region or our venue on campus with the state-of-the-art UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. We look forward to more exciting events in the years ahead."
A full list of future NCAA Championship events …
NCAA Championship Events Awarded to Duquesne
2027 Division I Men's Basketball Championship First and Second Rounds
2027 Division I Women's Bowling Championship
NCAA Championship Venue Events Awarded – All at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
2026 Division III Women's Volleyball Championship (Presidents' Athletic Conference host)
2027 & 2028 Division III Men's Basketball Championship (Presidents' Athletic Conference host)
2028 Division III Men's Volleyball Championship (Presidents' Athletic Conference host)
Other Upcoming NCAA Championship Events – All at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse
2025 & 2026 Division II Women's Basketball Elite Eight (Clarion host)
2026 inaugural Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Festival (Clarion host)
NCAA Championships Events Previously Hosted By/Awarded to Duquesne University
Men's Basketball Championship First & Second Rounds
1997, 2002 (Mellon Arena) and 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2024 (PPG Paints Arena)
Women's Basketball Championship Regional
2001 (Mellon Arena)
Women's Volleyball Championship
2019 (PPG Paints Arena)
Women's Bowling Regional
2023, 2024 (AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes)
Duquesne as an On-Campus Venue Host
2018 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship (A.J. Palumbo Center)
2018 NCAA Division II Fall Festival Women's Field Hockey Championship (Rooney Field)
2018 NCAA Division II Fall Festival Women's Volleyball Championship (A.J. Palumbo Center)
2022 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship (UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse)
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