| Fort Wayne will once again play host to NCAA events, this time for the Division III Men’s Basketball Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds on March 19 & 21, 2026 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. Fort Wayne has hosted five Division III Men’s Basketball Championships since 2019 welcoming four teams to Fort Wayne annually. This is the year that NCAA has planned for all division Championships to be held together in Indianapolis with the Men’s Final Four, Division II & Division III Joint Championships, and the NIT (National Invitation Tournament).
This means that for the first time, Fort Wayne will welcome more teams than ever before in Division III Men’s Basketball, seeing eight teams on the road to the Championship. Fort Wayne is set to host 5 additional events in 2027 & 2028 for Men’s & Women’s Division II Basketball and for Women’s Division I Golf, due in large part to the success of these Division III events over the past 6 years. “It is a privilege to once again welcome top Division III basketball teams to our community, and we look forward to creating an exceptional student-athlete and fan experience here in Fort Wayne with our partners at the Memorial Coliseum and Manchester University,” said Jill Boggs, Visit Fort Wayne President and CEO. Hosting these Division III NCAA basketball events has brought prestige to our community, helped build our profile as a sports tourism destination, and has had an average economic impact of $1.8 million. At any division of NCAA athletics, there is a standard that hosts meet for the organization, student-athletes, and committee members. Fort Wayne and the local organizing committee—Visit Fort Wayne, Manchester University, and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum—have proven the ability to do just that and are only reaffirmed through NCAA’s continued partnership. Tickets for the 2026 Division III Men’s Basketball Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds will go on sale Friday, January 9th at 10:00 AM and kick off with a special promotion—Adult All-Session tickets will be $25 and child/senior tickets will be $15. This promotion is available January 9th – 15th. This will be the best price of the season before regular-priced, all-session tickets settle at $45 for adults and $35 for child/senior. Find the ticket link here to purchase tickets starting Friday. https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0500639ED6988DF0 |
| For more information on the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Quarterfinal & Semifinal rounds, please contact the following representatives –
Amir Hicks Jazmin Zavala Nathan Dennison Rick Espeset Media B-roll can be found here – https://bit.ly/DIIIMBB-Broll |
About Visit Fort Wayne
Visit Fort Wayne is the official destination marketing organization for Fort Wayne and Allen County. Each year, over 9.2 million people visit Fort Wayne and generate $1.1 billion in direct economic impact. www.visitfortwayne.com.
About NCAA
Provide a world-class athletics and academic experience for student-athletes that fosters lifelong well-being.
About Manchester University
Manchester University respects the infinite worth of every individual and graduates persons of ability and conviction who draw upon their education and faith to lead principled, productive, and compassionate lives that improve the human condition.
About the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
The Mission of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was first defined in 1946, by a vote of the county’s taxpayers, authorizing the construction of a living memorial to the Nation’s war veterans. Implicit in that authorization was the necessity for ongoing maintenance of the building, plus the management of all business affairs relating to the facility. To that end, the Coliseum Board of Trustees entrusts a professional management staff to: oversee a clean, safe, well-maintained physical environment and provide responsible fiscal management, aimed at maintaining the Memorial Coliseum complex as a self-supporting entity. Thus our Mission extends to the responsibility for the production of maximum income, through the promotion of a diversity of entertainment, athletic, educational, and business-related events and activities. This lively mix of building usage ensures that the county’s tribute to those who served their country is truly a “Living Memorial.”
