March Madness returns to Columbus with Women's NCAA Tournament, five OHSAA state tournaments
March Madness will again take over Columbus throughout March as the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is played at Nationwide Arena for the first time and the Ohio High School Athletic Association hosts five state tournaments in our community in March.
First- and second-round games of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament will be played at Nationwide Arena March 21 & 23, and the event will feature the Big Ten champion Ohio State Buckeyes.
It will be the first time our city has hosted the women's basketball tournament since games were played in St. John Arena in March 2004 on the same weekend that Columbus also hosted the NCAA men's basketball tournament and the OHSAA girls high school basketball championships. Tickets go on sale March 18 at www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
The OHSAA will host boys basketball, girls basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and gymnastics championships in Columbus in March.
Much of the OHSAA state tournament play will take place at the Schottenstein Center, where state wrestling (March 5-7), girls basketball (March 19-21) and boys basketball (March 26-28) will be held. All draw large crowds over three straight weekends.
Nationwide Arena will again host the ice hockey state tournament, where the state's final four teams will decide that state title March 14-15 on the home ice of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Ohio's only National Hockey League franchise.
Meanwhile, the girls gymnastics state tournament was held at Hilliard Darby High School on March 6-7.
The five OHSAA state tournaments combine to attract thousands of visitors and an estimated $14 million in visitor spending in Columbus each month.
"The Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournaments are a privilege to host ard and it is important for our community to realize the collective impact that they have on our city," said Linda Shetina Logan, executive director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. "Combined they represent one of the largest annual events that our city hosts."
To show its appreciation and to provide a better level of service, the Sports Commission unveiled a new OHSAA sponsorship program for hotels in 2006 that better serve the players, coaches and fans who visit Columbus in March for the state tournaments. As part of the sponsorship program, an OHSAA Fan Guide was produced and distributed to attendees before and after their visit. The Fan Guide and a dedicated Web site feature all 17 OHSAA state tournaments that are held in Columbus throughout the year. For more information, visit www.OHSAAFans.com.
In This Issue
Top Stories
- A Message From the Director
- Columbus, Huntington Park to host Big Ten Baseball Tournament
- March Madness returns to Columbus with Women's NCAA Tournament, five OHSAA state tournaments
- John joins Sports Commission as sales manager