March Madness set for 2022 San Francisco landing

For the first time since its inaugural season, the Madness is West Bay-bound.

In 2022, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will be have games played in San Francisco. This will be the first time since 1939 that The City will host tournament play.

The West Region, taking place March 24-26, will fill the Chase Center, the new home of the Golden State Warriors. The NCAA has tabbed the Pac-12 conference as the official hosts of this round of play.

In a press release put out by the Warriors, team president and Chief Operating Officer Rick Welts said:

“This is one of the most exciting events on the calendar for sports. … We’re excited for this to be the first event officially on our Chase Center schedule.”

Welts added:

“(This) is great for not only the City of San Francisco, but the entire Bay Area to come see some of the best in college basketball.”

There are currently nine players and coaches within the Golden State organization to have advanced as far as the Sweet 16 round. Among them is head coach Steve Kerr.

Kerr, then a part of the 1988 Arizona Wildcats who were eliminated in the Final Four by the Oklahoma Sooners, said advancing out of regional play, and into the Final Four, was among the highlights of his college career:

“There is nothing quite like the NCAA Tournament. … It’s exciting to know that Chase Center and the City of San Francisco will play host to this event in 2022. I can assure you there will be memories made that will last a lifetime, both for the players and the fans.”

Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala are among the members of the Warriors organization to, like Kerr, have played in and advanced out of the regional round of March Madness.