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Two-site format extension confirmed
The NCAA confirmed the two-site regional format will continue for at least five more seasons.
“The NCAA's intention in moving to a two-regional format was to create a better atmosphere with increased attendance.”
Fort Worth and Sacramento will host the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, concentrating eight teams at each site and compressing practice and media windows around a single arena per site.
Geno Auriemma and other coaches have criticized the arrangement as prioritizing attendance gains over player well-being, while the NCAA defends the plan as delivering higher attendance.
Format details & rationale
The NCAA’s plan anchors two regional sites (Fort Worth Regional 1 and Sacramento Regional 2) hosting eight teams per site, effectively concentrating the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight into two venues.
The NCAA has argued the move creates a better atmosphere and higher attendance, while critics note the system can yield limited practice time and complicated scheduling for players and coaches.
Media availability and on-court access are part of the friction, with coaches contending the format reduces prep time and can complicate preparation for the weekend’s games.
Logistics and schedule friction
Auriemma described having to wake early and travel between sites with limited access to game courts, underscoring the mismatch between the schedule and players’ needs.
“"So we had to get our kids up, come over here... we can’t get on the court, and neither can the other teams."”
Media availability and shootarounds are tightly choreographed, with UConn and Notre Dame each juggling morning and late-day slots, sometimes in different venues on the same day.
Coaches and players characterized these rhythms as not aligning with regular-season norms, raising concerns about fatigue and readiness for crucial games.
Equipment-related concerns
Auriemma and others pointed to new baskets and balls right out of the box as a contributing factor to poor shooting, arguing these elements disrupt muscle memory and shot rhythm.
Observers point to inflated balls and higher rims as factors that could exaggerate misses, complicating performance assessments in a tournament already criticized for low three-point shooting on a given day.
The critique encompasses both men’s and women’s tournaments, with commentators asserting that such equipment changes should be tested and standardized to avoid unintended on-court effects.
Implications for growth & accountability
Attendance figures were cited by NCAA officials as evidence the format works, with reports of the combined crowds at the Fort Worth and Sacramento venues approaching thousands and the system touted as the highest-attended in tournament history.
“The NCAA's intention in moving to a two-regional format was to create a better atmosphere with increased attendance.”
Auriemma and allied voices insist the gains in attendance do not compensate for the diminished preparation, travel strain, and reduced player input in how the tournament is run.
Several outlets note that the move came after a broader push to protect fan access and monetize growth, even as critics warn of eroding the very conditions players say enable elite performance.