KOMO 4: NCAA tournament returns to Seattle after a decade, energizing downtown businesses and fans

This story was originally published by KOMO on March 20, 2025.

By Joel Moreno

SEATTLE — College hoops have brought the Big Dance to Seattle, and hosting the early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is helping local hotels, restaurants, and other attractions be the big winners this weekend.

This is the first time Seattle has hosted the event in a decade. Former Pac-12 teams Arizona and Oregon are among the eight schools playing first-round games Friday at Climate Pledge Arena.

“It’s been far too long, because Seattle actually has a pretty strong history with the NCAA tournament,” said James Sido, the public relations director for the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA). “One really terrific aspect of the group we have coming here to Seattle is we’ve got passionate fan bases, sure, but we also have big brands – and big brands that travel.”

Maryland, Memphis, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, Akron, and Liberty are the other teams slated to compete for a chance to advance to later rounds.

The arena will host four games on Friday, March 21, and two games on Sunday, March 23.

“Hotels, restaurants, those are probably two areas where you’re going to see a pretty heavy economic impact,” Sido said. “It’s going to be an exciting couple of days at Seattle Center and really all of downtown. All of downtown should feel some impact from this happening.”

The Seattle Sports Commission partnered with the University of Washington to secure the bid and bring the NCAA tournament to Seattle. Beth Knox, the president and CEO of the commission, said they also worked with partners such as DSA, Visit Seattle, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to help roll out the red carpet for the athletes, the coaching staffs and legions of fans.

“The fact that we have this compact downtown footprint is unique,” Knox said. “People can easily walk from a sports venue to shopping, the waterfront, and all these activities so that really plays in our favor.”

More than 18,000 people are expected to attend the games, and Visit Seattle estimates an economic impact of $13.6 million.

The hoops hysteria could also impact Seattle’s profile and prestige across the nation.

Between games, scenic TV shots of Seattle might be seen when returning from commercial breaks, highlighting the city’s natural beauty and picturesque skyline.

“It puts us on a national stage,” Knox said. “Every time we host one of these events it really creates an opportunity for our reputation to build and grow.”

Seattle can show how it hosts these signature sporting events with class and style, Sido said, which will only make it more appealing as a go-to destination.

“If you think about the NCAA tournament, it’s synonymous with the upset: with the Cinderella, with having that double-digit seed pull off a shocking upset in the first round and make a run into the Sweet 16 or the Elite 8,” Sido said, “and that Cinderella story could be authored in downtown Seattle.”