The Epicenter Of
College Basketball
In Dayton, College Basketball Holds a Special Place in Our Hearts
To us, the First Four® is much more than what happens on the court; it’s an opportunity to come together as a community and as a country to celebrate the great things that can be accomplished with teamwork, dedication, and a shared dream.
America's Most Passionate College Basketball Fans
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NCAA Tournament Sellouts
The 2018 First Four® set a record attendance for both single game (12,732) and two-night totals (25,068)
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Capacity Crowds
NCAA Tournament games at UD Arena continue to see capacity crowds year after year.
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Record Television Ratings
Year after year, the NCAA First Four in Dayton draws record ratings and a viewership of millions
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Global Publicity & Top-Tier Media
Visits from the United States President, British Prime Minister and Ohio Governor (2012)
America's #1 Host Site: UD Arena
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Consecutive years tipping off March Madness®
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NCAA® Tournament Games
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NCAA® Tournaments Hosted
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Top 35 National Attendance Each Year Since Opening in 1969
Dayton Hoopla Community Events
2019 The Big Hoopla STEM Challenge
Ready to shoot some hoops? Want to learn something new? Is tinkering, building and creating something awesome your thing? The we’ve got just the event for you… Bring your family to participate in an exciting and FREE basketball and educational event for boys and girls, grades K-8 – Sunday March 17, 2019 at Chaminade Julienne High School.
Learn moreHoopla Four Miler
Be Part of the Excitement in March as Dayton, Ohio tips-off the Madness!
Learn more2019 NCAA First Four March 19 & 20, 2019
For the 19th consecutive year, the road to the Final Four starts in Dayton, Ohio with the 2019 NCAA® First Four®. Purchase your tickets to experience the Madness live from UD Arena on March 13 & 14.
2019 NCAA First Four Hoopla Ticket Program
The Hoopla Ticket Program provides NCAA Tournament tickets, free-of-charge to military servicemen, military families and local students. The highly successful program donates thousands of tickets annually, nearing 40,000 tickets donated since 2012 and has garnered the financial support from multiple NBA players and top-tier national sponsors.
Join our GoFundMe Campaign Donate
Every dollar raised helps to provide tickets for military service members, their families, and local students to attend NCAA® First Four Basketball Tournament games at UD Arena; and supports the Dayton Development Coalition's Hometown Heroes™ program throughout the year.
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“Basketball means everything to the city of Dayton.”
Allie LaForce, CBS Sports, @ALaForce -
“Bravo [University of Dayton] and [Dayton Basketball] for the First Four. Your city, school, venue, and fans are top notch. Well done and thanks.”.”
Mike Tirico, NBC Sports, @miketirico -
“The First Four absolutely belongs in Dayton and we remain confident our community will continue to deliver capacity crowds and a premier championship experience. The Hoopla Ticket Program for Airmen is incredibly special and successful.”
Neil Sullivan, UD Director of Athletics -
“The people here [Dayton, OH] support college basketball remarkably well, but in a classy way. And I hope the First Four is here forever.”
Joe Lunardi, ESPN Bracketology Expert -
“The Big Hoopla directly supports the Airmen stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the United States Air Force while we work to strengthen the University of Dayton’s position as America’s #1 NCAA tournament host site.”
Jeff Hoagland, Volunteer Chairman, The Big Hoopla -
“I feel Dayton appreciates us [military members] and I appreciate what they do and the great opportunities the community provides the men and women at Wright-Patterson. Not everyone gets to go to an NCAA game, let alone, one that is hosted in your own city.”
Master Sgt. Wayne Gatewood, USAF -
“I say this every year, but I LOVE that the First Four is in Dayton. I hope that never changes.”
Seth Davis, CBS Sports, @SethDavisHoops -
“We have the most passionate fans in college basketball! Ultimately, they are the reason The Big Hoopla works. This passion extends to our support for the men and women who serve in the military and their families, and we are grateful to use the events of The Big Hoopla to recognize their service and sacrifice.”
JP Nauseef, Big Hoopla Founder -
“They’ve got this incredible track record that goes back to the opening round… and the local organizing committee there has just gotten stronger and more committed each and every year. The feedback that we hear from the teams that are participating in First Four is overwhelmingly positive, about the experience that they’re getting, both playing in UD arena in front of a sold out and loud and engaged crowd as well as the hospitality that they experience from the entire Dayton community.”
Dan Gavitt, NCAA Vice President for Men’s Basketball -
“Over the past several years, I have witnessed, first-hand the tremendous impact the Hoopla Ticket Program has on Wright-Patt; there is no better community-led program designed to showcase the young men and women from the United States Air Force. The Dayton region continues to demonstrate national leadership and strengthen their reputation as the model for community-base relationships.”
General Lester L. Lyles, Retired, USAF -
“Thank you to the Hoopla sponsors and the entire Dayton region for all the things you do for Wright-Pat. The community’s support allows the young men and women of the United States Air Force to be part of the NCAA Tournament, experience March Madness, and do so right where the tournament tips-off each year, at UD Arena.”
General T. Michael Moseley, Retired, 18th Chief of Staff, US Air Force
