The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has announced that Fort Wayne, Indiana, was awarded five upcoming events over the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
News release from Visit Fort Wayne:
Fort Wayne, Indiana Wins Bids to Host 5 Future NCAA Events
Fort Wayne, Indiana (October 2, 2024) – The National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) has announced Fort Wayne was awarded five upcoming events over the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Through a years-long effort to organize and submit bids with partners, and meet and present to NCAA decision-makers, Visit Fort Wayne’s efforts of building strong partner relationships and industry knowledge is a winning combination.
Visit Fort Wayne submitted bids to NCAA and was awarded host destination of the following events:
- 2027 NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regionals in partnership with Purdue Fort Wayne and Sycamore Hills Golf Club
- 2027 & 2028 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship in partnership with Great Midwest Athletic Conference and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
- 2027 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship in partnership with Great Midwest Athletic Conference and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
- 2028 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Elite Eight and Semifinals in partnership with Great Midwest Athletic Conference and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
This is a huge win for the Fort Wayne community, once again bringing the prestigious name of NCAA to our venues along with the visitor spending and media attention that events like these generate. The NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championships have been hosted at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum since 2019 after Visit Fort Wayne pursued a similar bid process for that annual event. The success of that event over the past 6 years aided in the NCAA’s decision to award Fort Wayne these future events and continue their partnership with Visit Fort Wayne and Fort Wayne’s sports venues.
“We are honored and excited to once again welcome NCAA events to our community and are confident that athletes and fans alike will have an excellent experience here just as they’ve had for the past 6 years during the Division III Men’s Basketball Championships,” says Nicolle Campbell, Director of Sales at Visit Fort Wayne. “One of the initial goals of our 10-year Tourism Master Plan is setting up Fort Wayne and Allen County to be a national sports event destination. Winning these NCAA events with the support of our partners at Purdue Fort Wayne, Sycamore Hills Golf Club, the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference is a perfect way to launch Fort Wayne toward the realization of that goal.”
“As the only NCAA Division I school in the region, we have the opportunity to help bring major events like NCAA postseason competition to the city. These events not only raise the visibility of Purdue Fort Wayne, but also help position Allen County as a major sports destination. We’re proud to play our part to bring visitors to the region and provide a first-class championship experience.” – Kelley Hartley Hutton, Purdue Fort Wayne Athletic Director
“Throughout our 35-year history, Sycamore Hills has been committed to fostering the growth of the next generation of golf professionals. We are honored to continue this tradition by hosting the NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Regionals. This event will not only showcase the exceptional talent of these young athletes but also highlight the vibrant golf community and world-class facilities that Fort Wayne has to offer, further solidifying the region’s reputation as a premier golf destination.” – Christopher J. Hampton, GM/COO, Sycamore Hills Golf Club
“We are thrilled to be launching a host partnership with one of the premier NCAA Division II conferences in the country – the Great Midwest Athletic Conference – headquartered right here in Indiana. The GMAC has a strong history of championship participation, and we are confident that their membership will help us host successful championship events in 2027 & 2028.
Transitioning from hosting Division III to now hosting Division II with eight teams participating at the finals site, allows us to grow the economic impact of the event, welcoming twice as many teams and their fans to the local community. There will be more games and more championship moments taking place at the Coliseum with Division II in 2027 & 2028.
Investments in equipment and amenities – such as a new basketball court in 2025 – continue to set us apart from other communities and venues with our desire to host world-class national championship events.”
– Nathan Dennison, Vice President of Sales, Allen County War Memorial Coliseum“Fort Wayne has proven to be an amazing host city for NCAA championship events, and we are thankful for the opportunity to showcase the community again during these future championships. We are fortunate to be partnered with Visit Fort Wayne and the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in hosting the Division II Elite Eight and anticipate an exciting atmosphere for the student-athletes and fans.” – Tom Daeger, Commissioner, Great Midwest Athletic Conference
Related Images:
