Tournament Guide · Men's Basketball
March Madness in Fort Worth brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Ariat Arena, formerly Dickies Arena, on Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20. The University of North Texas is the host school, and eight teams will play in Fort Worth.
March Madness 2027 in Fort Worth brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Ariat Arena, formerly Dickies Arena, on Thursday, March 18 and Saturday, March 20, 2027. The University of North Texas is the host school, and eight teams will play in Fort Worth. The winners of the Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita join the 64-team field.
Which teams play in March Madness Fort Worth will not be known until Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027.
First & Second Round
Fort Worth hosts six games over two days: the First Round on Thursday and the Second Round on Saturday. Tip-off times and TV networks are announced after Selection Sunday.
| Round | Dates | Arena | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Thursday, March 18, 2027 | Ariat Arena (formerly Dickies Arena), Fort Worth, TX | University of North Texas |
| Second Round | Saturday, March 20, 2027 | Ariat Arena (formerly Dickies Arena), Fort Worth, TX | University of North Texas |
The winners of the Second Round move on to the Sweet 16 at one of the four regional sites. See all March Madness 2027 locations.
Venue Guide
If you are searching for the Dickies Arena March Madness schedule, you are in the right place. The arena was renamed Ariat Arena on October 26, 2026, under a 10-year naming rights deal, though the NCAA and local sources may still use the old name.
Address: 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, TX 76107, next to the Will Rogers Memorial Center in the Cultural District.
Host: the University of North Texas, with the Fort Worth Sports Commission as a partner.
Capacity: about 13,000 for basketball. The arena itself lists 13,300, and it is owned by the City of Fort Worth.
Tournament history: it opened in 2019 and hosted first and second round games in 2022, so 2027 is its second time.
Getting there: parking and transit details for the tournament will come from the NCAA and the host, so check NCAA.com closer to March.
Ariat Arena1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, TX 76107
Get Directions →How to Watch
On TV and streaming. CBS and TNT Sports show every tournament game across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, with live streaming on March Madness Live. The network for each First and Second Round game is set after Selection Sunday, so check the bracket reveal.
In person. Official tickets for the Fort Worth sessions are sold through the NCAA Ticket Portal at NCAATickets.com, by session or as an all-sessions package for March 18 and 20. The arena also lists the event on its own site. Prices and availability can change, so confirm on the official page before you buy.
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Answers
The First Round is Thursday, March 18, and the Second Round is Saturday, March 20, 2027. Selection Sunday is March 14.
At Ariat Arena (formerly Dickies Arena), 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth. The University of North Texas is the host school.
Through the NCAA Ticket Portal at NCAATickets.com. Teams and tip-off times are announced after Selection Sunday, so check the official page for current availability.
