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NCAA Tournament Ripped For 'Absurd' Sweet 16 Location

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Mar 24, 2025 5:07 PM ET

The first two rounds of the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament are in the books. The Sweet 16 begins on Thursday.

Three of the four regionals this weekend are being played at standard basketball arenas. However, the Midwest Regional, set for Friday and Sunday, is taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of the Indianapolis Colts.

A few people are lamenting the fact the games are scheduled for a football stadium as opposed to the more intimate and fitting settings made for basketball.

"Still can't believe the Sweet 16 is being played at the Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium instead of the Pacers' Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This is an absurd set-up... #MarchMadness," said the College Sports Only X/Twitter account.

Still can't believe the Sweet 16 is being played at the Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium instead of the Pacers' Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

This is an absurd set-up... #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/NKgjYZQ5L9
— College Sports Only ⚾️ (@CollegeSportsO) March 24, 2025

"This irks me very much," one person said in reply.

"it’s madness is what it is," a second person said.

"$eriou$ thought was given to logistic$ regarding the crowd$," chimed in a third person.

However, others contributed some possible explanations for the venue choice, including the fact that next year's Final Four is in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil.

"It's because the Final Four is there next year. Every year the NCAA puts a regional at the same venue where the Final Four will be the following year. Helps with ticket and game ops, etc. to give them a dry run," one person said.

"It’s because the state championship is at gainbridge Saturday. Not saying it’s right, just some context," another person added.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MARCH 21: A general view of the March Madness logo on center court is seen before the game between the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles and the Florida Gators in the second round game of the 2021 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on March 21, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

For three decades now, the NCAA has held Final Fours exclusively in football stadiums for max capacity. The last time a basketball arena hosted a men's Final Four was 1996, when the event was held at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey.

However, there have been years when all four regionals were played at basketball venues, which was the case last year and is scheduled to be the setup in 2026 as well.

Meanwhile, this year's Final Four is set for the Alamodome in San Antonio, before heading to Indianapolis next year.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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