Massachusetts Wins Bids to Host Seven NCAA National and Regional Sports Championships

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has awarded seven national and regional championships to Massachusetts colleges, sports organizations and facilities to host events taking place in 2018-2022.   The NCAA’s year-long, competitive bid process included 3,000+ bids to host 600+ events from across the nation.              

Massachusetts submitted over 30 bids, winning four NCAA Championships and three Regional Championship events. Locally, the Massachusetts Sports Marketing Office collaborated with participating institutions to submit a “Team Massachusetts” bid outlining a five-year plan for the Commonwealth to host these events.     

Here are the winning Massachusetts bids:

2018

• Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Championship hosted by Holy Cross at the DCU Center

2019

• Division III Indoor Men’s & Women’s  Track & Field Championship hosted by UMass Boston at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center

2020

• Women’s Ice Hockey Championship hosted by Boston University at Agganis Arena

• Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Regional Championships hosted by Boston College at Franklin Park

2021

• Division I Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Regional Championships hosted by Boston College at Franklin Park

2022

• Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championships Frozen Four hosted by Hockey East at TD Garden

• Division III Indoor Men’s & Women’s Track & Field Championship hosted by UMass Boston at the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center.

“The NCAA events will provide an economic boost to Massachusetts, especially through direct spending at hotels, restaurants and tourism sites,” said Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary of Business Development and International Trade. “They also showcase the state’s robust sports community, world-class facilities and appreciative fan base, helping us brand Massachusetts as a premier sports destination.”

“We look forward to welcoming athletes and sports fans from across the nation to Massachusetts over the next five years,” said Francois Laurent-Nivaud, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT).  “Our tourism and hospitality industry stands ready to give visitors a memorial Massachusetts experience.”

Massachusetts has hosted over 60 NCAA Regional and National Championships in the past 20 years, according to Massachusetts Sports Marketing Office Director Shannah McArdle.

“Our goal is to attract marquee sporting events to Massachusetts year-round,” said McArdle. “We are honored that the NCAA has chosen Massachusetts to host these great sporting events, and congratulate the colleges and sports facilities for winning these competitive bids.”

In addition to the NCAA bid awards just announced, Massachusetts is hosting several other NCAA events in 2017.   This spring, the Division III Men’s Volleyball Championship takes place on April 28-30 at Springfield College’s Blake Arena.  Massachusetts Maritime Academy hosts the 2017 NCAA Division III Baseball Regional Championship on May 17-21 at Whitehouse Field in Harwich, Cape Cod.  On May 26-29, Harvard University and Gillette Stadium co-host the 2017 Lacrosse Championships in Foxborough.  Gillette Stadium is the first venue ever to host the Men’s and Women’s Championships in the same year. 

In 2018, Harvard University and Gillette Stadium will again host the Men’s Lacrosse Championships, while Holy Cross and the DCU Center will host the Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Regional Championship, and Boston College and TD Garden will host the Division I Men's Basketball Regional Championship. 

Massachusetts attracted 25 million domestic and 2.5 million international travelers in 2015, according to MOTT.  Visitors spent $20.2 billion on lodging, meals, cultural and recreational attractions, transportation and retail.  This direct spending generated $1.3 billion in state and local taxes, and supplied over 135,000 jobs in Massachusetts. For more information on visiting Massachusetts, go to massvacation.com.

The Massachusetts Sports Marketing Office works year round to strengthen the state’s sports community by bringing in world-class sporting events.   For more information, visit masportsoffice.com.