Sioux Falls, SD (KELO AM) - Sioux Falls has already picked up NCAA Championship events in Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Track and Field, and Wrestling – mostly at the Division II level. However their latest flirtation with the NCAA comes at the highest level – in quite possibly the most prestigious event the origination holds, the Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Sioux Falls has applied to host early-round games in the 2017 or 2018 tourney at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. A decision from the NCAA on those tournaments is expected in November. Chris Semrau with the PREMIER Center says they have been working with the Sioux Falls Sports Authority on the bid, which he feels is strong enough to get a nod from the NCAA. Semrau says venues usually need to bid a few times to get the NCAA’s attention, however with Sioux Falls’ track record of successfully hosing the Summit League championships the last few years give the bid an upper hand.
Semrau says the structure of the tournament would be somewhat different, however if awarded it would be one of the biggest events ever held in the state.