Washington, D.C. will host the 2013 East Regional and New York City won’t.
There had been talk of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn hosting the event, but the NCAA instead announced Wednesday that Georgetown University will host the event at the Verizon Center March 28 and 30.
“In 2009, when the committee selected hosts for the 75th tournament, there was a concerted effort to include cities with a rich history to help mark that milestone,” said Mark Lewis, the NCAA’s executive vice president for championships and alliances. “The decision to delay the announcement of the East Regional site was made because the committee wanted to explore several options. In the end, we think celebrating 75 years of one of the country’s favorite sporting events in our nation’s capital and a great basketball city is fitting.”
Washington, D.C., will join Arlington, Texas, along with Indianapolis and Los Angeles as sites for the regional semifinals and finals from March 28-31. Dayton will host the First Four March 19 and 20 and is one of eight cities hosting second- and third-round games March 21-24. The others are Auburn Hills, Mich.; Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; Lexington, Ky.; Philadelphia; Salt Lake City; and San Jose. The Final Four will be held April 6 and 8 in Atlanta.
The committee also announced that the Missouri Valley Conference will serve as the host conference for the tournament games taking place in Kansas City.
