Tournament Guide · Men's Basketball
March Madness in Louisville brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to the KFC Yum! Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21. The University of Louisville is the host school, and eight teams will play in Louisville.
March Madness 2027 in Louisville brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to the KFC Yum! Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21, 2027. The University of Louisville is the host school, and eight teams will play in Louisville. The winners of the Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita join the 64-team field.
Which teams play in March Madness Louisville will not be known until Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027.
First & Second Round
Louisville hosts six games over two days: the First Round on Friday and the Second Round on Sunday. Tip-off times and TV networks are announced after Selection Sunday.
| Round | Dates | Arena | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | Friday, March 19, 2027 | KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY | University of Louisville |
| Second Round | Sunday, March 21, 2027 | KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY | University of Louisville |
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
The KFC Yum! Center is a downtown arena on the Ohio River that seats more than 22,000 for basketball, among the largest buildings in the tournament.
Address: 1 Arena Plaza, Louisville, KY 40202, in downtown Louisville.
Host: the University of Louisville, whose men's and women's basketball teams play in the arena. The Louisville Sports Commission and the arena's operator helped bring the event.
Capacity: 22,090 for basketball. The arena opened in 2010 and is owned by the Louisville Arena Authority.
Tournament history: it hosted men's tournament games in 2012 and 2015, plus South Regional games in later years, so 2027 is its sixth time hosting men's tournament games.
Getting there: parking and transit details for the tournament will come from the NCAA and the host, so check NCAA.com closer to March.
KFC Yum! Center1 Arena Plaza, Louisville, KY 40202
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 Louisville sessions are sold through the NCAA Ticket Portal at NCAATickets.com, by session or as an all-sessions package for March 19 and 21. The KFC Yum! Center also lists the event, offers a sign-up for ticket alerts and sells NCAA Fan Experience hospitality packages. Prices and availability can change, so confirm on the official page before you buy.
More Sites
Looking for the team instead of the host city? See the Louisville Cardinals men's basketball schedule.
Answers
The First Round is Friday, March 19, and the Second Round is Sunday, March 21, 2027. Selection Sunday is March 14.
At the KFC Yum! Center, 1 Arena Plaza, downtown Louisville. The University of Louisville 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.
