The 2031 NCAA Men’s Division I Final Four will be played in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the NCAA announced today.
This marks the sixth time Atlanta has been awarded the event but will be the fifth time serving as host following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Leadership from the Atlanta Sports Council’s Championship Hosting Division met in July with the NCAA Men’s Basketball Committee in Park City, UT to complete the final phase of the bid process, focusing on “finishing what we started” following the 2020 cancellation.
“We are thrilled with the NCAA’s decision to award Atlanta the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four for a sixth time,” Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council, said in a press release. “We were eager to host a future Final Four after the heartbreak of 2020 and we are grateful to the NCAA for allowing us another opportunity to showcase this great city to basketball fans in 2031.”
The Atlanta Sports Council spearheaded the bid alongside the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, City of Atlanta, Georgia Tech Athletics, Georgia World Congress Center Authority, Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the State of Georgia.
“Time and again, Atlanta has proved itself as the best city in America to host global sporting events and we thank the NCAA for selecting us to host this incredible event,” Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “The eyes of the sporting world will be on Atlanta, and we know that we will be up to the task once again as a champion is crowned and One Shining Moment is played in 2031.”
Atlanta previously hosted the Men’s Final Four in 1977, 2002, 2007 and 2013, as well as the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 1993 and 2003.
“From our reliable infrastructure network to our world-famous hospitality, Georgia has consistently set itself apart as a world-class host and sports destination for large scale events like the NCAA Men’s Final Four,” Gov. Brian Kemp said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming players and fans taking part in this prestigious event to Atlanta for a fifth time as they join a long and storied history of sports in the Peach State.”
