DES MOINES, IOWA (March 20, 2019) — Today, Governor Kim Reynolds welcomes the NCAA men's basketball tournament back to central Iowa. The first round of the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament will be held in Des Moines on March 21, 2019.
“Iowa is an amazing state and once people visit, they understand why,” said Gov Reynolds. “With incredible people, vibrant communities, a growing economy, and excellent quality-of-life, we’re attracting new fans to our state every day. That’s why it’s exciting to host tournaments like the NCAA and encourage everyone to witness Iowa Nice first-hand.”
The first time Des Moines hosted the NCAA Tournament was in 2016. According to Catch Des Moines, the tournament had over $6 million in economic impact in Iowa. Among first and second-round host cities, Des Moines was the first market to sell out their local allotment of seats. There were an estimated 20,000 people downtown during the tournament in 2016.
Find out more about the NCAA Tournament in Des Moines here.
See Gov Reynolds’ final four here.
