Tournament Guide · Men's Basketball
March Madness in Minneapolis brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Target Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21. The University of Minnesota is the host school, working with Minnesota Sports and Events, and eight teams will play in Minneapolis.
March Madness 2027 in Minneapolis brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Target Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21, 2027. The University of Minnesota is the host school, working with Minnesota Sports and Events, and eight teams will play in Minneapolis. The winners of the Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita join the 64-team field.
Which teams play in March Madness Minneapolis will not be known until Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027.
First & Second Round
Minneapolis 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 | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN | University of Minnesota |
| Second Round | Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Target Center, Minneapolis, MN | University of Minnesota |
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
Target Center is a downtown Minneapolis arena that seats about 18,800 for basketball, and 2027 is the first time it hosts men's tournament games.
Address: 600 First Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55403, in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis.
Host: the University of Minnesota, in partnership with Minnesota Sports and Events.
Capacity: 18,798 for basketball. The arena is owned by the City of Minneapolis.
Home teams: the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. The arena opened in 1990 and had a major renovation completed in 2017.
Tournament history: Minneapolis last hosted men's tournament games when the Final Four was played at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2019. Target Center was set to host a 2021 regional before it moved to Indiana.
Getting there: parking and transit details for the tournament will come from the NCAA and the host, so check NCAA.com closer to March.
Target Center600 First Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55403
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 Minneapolis sessions are sold through the NCAA Ticket Portal at NCAATickets.com, by session or as an all-sessions package for March 19 and 21. Target Center and Minnesota Sports and Events also list the event and offer a sign-up for ticket alerts. Prices and availability can change, so confirm on the official page before you buy.
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Answers
The First Round is Friday, March 19, and the Second Round is Sunday, March 21, 2027. Selection Sunday is March 14.
At Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., downtown Minneapolis. The University of Minnesota 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.
