SALT LAKE CITY – The NCAA announced today the University of Utah has been selected to host first- and second-round games of the 2019 Men’s Basketball Tournament. The games will take place March 21 and 23 at Vivint Smart Home Arena, which is in the process of undergoing a major renovation.
The University of Utah is no stranger to hosting NCAA Tournament games. Ironically, 2019 will serve as the 40th anniversary of the 1979 NCAA Final Four that took place in the Jon M. Huntsman Center, featuring the title game “dream match-up” of Michigan State’s Magic Johnson and Indiana State’s Larry Bird.
The U. has hosted the NCAA Tournament three previous times at Vivint, with the most recent games taking place this past March with first- and second-round action. The NCAA West Regionals were held at Vivint in 2010 and opening weekend games visited in 2013.
Utah hosted NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first- and second-round games on 13 occasions at the Huntsman Center and the NCAA regionals twice. Between Vivint Smart Home Arena and the Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City has hosted 98 NCAA men’s basketball games across 19 tournaments.