LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Get ready for basketball because Louisville is once again hosting the NCAA Sweet 16 men’s basketball tournament beginning Friday, March 24.

What You Need To Know

  • Louisville is the South Region host for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8

  • Thousands of basketball fans arrive in Louisville this week
  • Games will take place at the KFC Yum! Center Louisville beginning Friday, March 24

Thousands of basketball fans are expected downtown to support Alabama, San Diego State, Creighton, and the lowest seed still alive in the tournament, Princeton. 

Just two blocks away from the KFC Yum! Center is the Louisville Tourism Center. That’s where Spectrum News 1 met Donna Spaulding, who remembers the last time Louisville was a tournament host city in 2019.

Spaulding and her friends aren’t exactly basketball afficionados, but you better believe she made some picks. Spaulding has her favorites picked to make the Final Four, including Indiana, Purdue, Gonzaga and Alabama.

Regardless of how the games actually shake out, Spaulding is excited for Louisville to have such a lively event in town. 

“You see all the teams. They all come dressed to the nine’s,” Spaulding said. 

Apart from the actual play inside the Yum! Center, Louisville Tourism will promote all of Louisville’s attractions with the tournament in town. 

“Very much looking forward to seeing everyone that comes to town. They are going to be looking for things to do. Here at our Visitor’s Center is a great place to get plugged in to what is there to do while you’re in town,” Rosanne Mastin told Spectrum News 1.

Mastin points out if Louisville can host one of the oldest and biggest sporting events in the country, the Kentucky Derby, the city is well positioned to host a college basketball tournament.

Mastin and the Visitor Center will be directing fans to the Muhammad Ali Museum, the Slugger Museum and bat factory, the Frazier History Museum and several bourbon experiences.

There’s a lot of options so Mastin says if families and fans are looking for a break from basketball, Louisville has a plethora of activities to choose from.

So who does Spaulding hopes wins it all?

“And our winner we’re hoping is IU because they’re close.”

We love the proximity pick, but unfortunately Indiana fell to Miami in the Round of 32. However, Spaulding still has two of her four picks still in the mix, Alabama and Gonzaga. Win or lose hosting the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 has Spaulding ready for basketball.

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