March Madness is returning to Columbus. The Great Columbus Sports Commission announced Tuesday that Columbus will once again host first and second round Men's Division I NCAA Tournament basketball games in Nationwide Arena in March of 2019. It marks the fifth time (2004, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2019) that Columbus and Nationwide have been selected for first and second round action.
The men's tournament games highlight the 12 championship bids in six sports awarded to Columbus Tuesday at the Division I, II and III levels. The other top event is the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship, also coming to Nationwide Arena, in 2021. Columbus just hosted the Women's Volleyball Championships this past December.
The Great Columbus Sports Commission has stepped up Columbus' sports presence in recent years. In March of next year, the Women's Division I Basketball Final Four will be held at Nationwide Arena for the first time.