July 6, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis athletic department learned Thursday that FedExForum will be the host site for two NCAA Basketball events, beginning with an NCAA Men's Basketball Regional, March 27th and 29th of 2009, and following with an NCAA Women's Regional in 2010.
"In addition to our long and storied history of participating in the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments, the University of Memphis also has a long history of serving as a host for other teams participating in this prestigious event," said R.C. Johnson.
"In addition to being one of the newest facilities in the nation, FedExForum is one of the finest basketball venues in the country from a fan's perspective," Johnson said. "We have hosted several conference championships there and FedExForum has proven to be a building and a staff that can handle any challenges that are presented."
Memphis was selected as one of the 22 NCAA sites for the 2009 and 2010 tournaments from among bids from 56 cities. FedExForum will be a first-time host for an NCAA men's basketball championship, and will be one of four regional sites. Memphis will host the South Regional Mar. 27 & 29th, in 2009, the same time that Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis will be hosting the Midwest Regional. The TD Banknorth and Boston College will serve as the site of the East Regional, while Cardinal Stadium and Arizona State will host the West Regional, Mar. 26th and 28th. The winners of all four regional finals advance to the Final Four, hosted in 2009 in Detroit.
On the women's side, Memphis was also selected as a regional site in 2010. FedExForum and the University of Memphis will host one of the four women's regionals either March 27 and 29th or March 28th and 30th. The University of Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio), the Sprint Center (Kansas City, Missouri) and ARCO Arena (Sacramento, Calif.) will also serve as NCAA Women's Basketball Regional Sites. The winners from each women's regional will advance to the 2010 Final Four, hosted in San Antonio.
Memphis last served as a host to the NCAA Men's First and Second Round in 2001 and the Women's Midwest NCAA Regional Championship in 2000. This will be the just the second time the Tigers will host a women's regional and will the first time-ever that Memphis has hosted a men's basketball regional.
