New Red Wings Arena To Host 2018 First and Second Round NCAA Basketball Tournament Games
DETROIT (CBS Detroit/AP) -- The new Detroit Red Wings arena hasn't gotten a name yet -- or even started to rise into the Detroit skyline -- but there are already events beginning to line up for the new venue.
The NCAA revealed its schedule of dates and locations for each round of upcoming Men's Basketball Tournament games. The University of Detroit Mercy will play official "host" while the games are held in Detroit, but the contests will be held at the new Red Wings arena.
The arena will host first and second round games on March 16 and 18, 2018. The NCAA also announced that Rounds of 64 and 32 games will return to being called the first and second rounds in 2016, while opening games -- currently called the First Four -- will be official "play-in" games.
Rounds of 64 and 32 will return to being called the first and second rounds in 2016: pic.twitter.com/IO1NJH9mss
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) November 17, 2014
Ford Field hosted regional semifinals and finals in 2008 and the Final Four the following season. The Palace of Auburn Hills has also hosted first and second round games in previous years.
The Ilitch family unveiled details of its plans for an entertainment and residential complex centered on a new Detroit Red Wings hockey arena back in July.
Ilitch says a new Red Wings arena will open in 2017 and stands to have an $1.8 billion economic impact in the area, including 8,300 construction jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs.
He says his organization will help create $200 million for mixed-use development concurrent with arena construction.
[MORE: Latest on the new Red Wings arena]
TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.