The NCAA Announces March Madness Games Will Have Fans

The NCAA, which lost its 2020 March Madness due to the beginning of the COVID pandemic, announced Friday that there will be fans in the stands during this year's tournament, which will be held at locations around central Indiana. The NCAA is planning on a 25% capacity limit at the games beginning March 18 with the First Four at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette.

“We continue to use the knowledge we have gained over the season on how to conduct games in a safe environment,” NCAA President Mark Emmert said via a news release. “I want to thank our host universities and conferences, the Indiana State Health Department, and the leaders in the Marion, Monroe and Tippecanoe county health departments as they help make that possible.”

Locations where games will be played during the tournament include: 

• Lucas Oil Stadium

• Bankers Life Fieldhouse

• Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall

• Mackey Arena

• Hinkle Fieldhouse

• Indiana Farmers Coliseum

Under the capacity rules laid out by the NCAA, the Final Four inside Lucas Oil Stadium figures to have an attendance of 17,500. With a capacity of 9,100, the legendary Hinkle Fieldhouse would have a tournament capacity of 2,275.

“The number one priority for decisions around the tournament continues to be the safety and well-being of everyone participating in the event,” NCAA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Brian Hainline stated in the release. “We have been in regular conversations with the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group and local health officials to make sure we have the right protocols in place to provide a safe environment. Additionally, IU Health is providing critical testing and monitoring services enabling us to safely conduct the tournament.”



















Written by
Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content of OutKick and the editor of the Morning Screencaps column that examines a variety of stories taking place in real America. Kinsey is also the founder of OutKick’s Thursday Night Mowing League, America’s largest virtual mowing league. Kinsey graduated from University of Toledo.