Denver Joins Final Four Hosts

The NCAA named Denver a finalist city to host the men's Final Four during the 2032-2036 cycle, an announcement made on Tuesday. The Mile High City is one of seven locations selected for the next round of the bidding process. The other finalist cities are Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Nashville, and New Orleans.

This selection follows recent developments regarding the Denver Broncos' stadium plans. The team shared updated renderings for Burnham Yard earlier this year, identifying it as the preferred site for a new venue. Mayor Mike Johnston linked the two developments in a social media statement, noting that the effort has been in motion for years.

Johnston said the city is thrilled for the chance to host the tournament. He stated that a new Broncos stadium with a retractable roof and more than 50,000 seats will expand Denver's eligibility for major events. The mayor added that the new facility would provide additional opportunities for the city.

Denver has previously hosted the men's Final Four only once, in 1990. That event took place at the McNichols Sports Arena, which was before the NCAA shifted the tournament to football stadiums. Martin Newton, Samford Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and incoming chair of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee, praised the high level of interest from the applicant cities.

NCAA staff and committee members will continue evaluating the seven finalist cities through meetings and site visits. Each city will present its proposal during summer meetings in July 2027. The committees will announce the tournament hosts following those presentations.