Tournament Guide · Men's Basketball
March Madness in Sacramento brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Golden 1 Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21. Sacramento State (Cal State Sacramento) is the host school, and eight teams will play in Sacramento.
March Madness 2027 in Sacramento brings the NCAA tournament's First and Second Rounds to Golden 1 Center on Friday, March 19 and Sunday, March 21, 2027. Sacramento State (Cal State Sacramento) is the host school, and eight teams will play in Sacramento. The winners of the Opening Round in Dayton and Wichita join the 64-team field.
Which teams play in March Madness Sacramento will not be known until Selection Sunday, March 14, 2027.
First & Second Round
Sacramento 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 | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA | Cal State Sacramento |
| Second Round | Sunday, March 21, 2027 | Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA | Cal State Sacramento |
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
Golden 1 Center is a downtown arena that seats about 17,600 for basketball and has hosted the tournament twice before.
Address: 500 David J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814, in downtown Sacramento.
Host: Sacramento State (Cal State Sacramento), in partnership with Visit Sacramento.
Capacity: 17,608 for basketball. The arena opened in 2016, is owned by the City of Sacramento and is the home of the Sacramento Kings.
Tournament history: it hosted first and second round games in 2017 and 2023, so 2027 is its third time. It also hosted the 2026 women's regional.
Getting there: parking and transit details for the tournament will come from the NCAA and the host, so check NCAA.com closer to March.
Golden 1 Center500 David J. Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814
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 Sacramento sessions are sold through the NCAA Ticket Portal at NCAATickets.com, by session or as an all-sessions package for March 19 and 21. Golden 1 Center also lists the event and offers a sign-up for NCAA 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 Golden 1 Center, 500 David J. Stern Walk, downtown Sacramento. Sacramento State 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.
