IOWA STATE, KENTUCKY, MIZZOU, AND PURDUE PROMISE TO BRING HUGE CROWDS; LOCAL FANS CAN ATTEND TEAM PRACTICES FOR FREE ON THURSDAY AT ENTERPRISE CENTER
Key Takeaways:
March Madness Returns to St. Louis for the first time since 2016. Economic impact of more than $10 million expected. Thursday: Open practices at Enterprise Center free to the public. Friday: Four games at Enterprise Center – download game times graphics here.
ST. LOUIS – March 16, 2026 – If you haven’t secured tickets yet for the NCAA Men’s Basketball 1st / 2nd Rounds at Enterprise Center, you have your work cut out for you. Brand name programs Iowa State, Kentucky, Mizzou, and Purdue highlight the field headed to the Gateway City, making tickets for this weekend’s NCAA Tournament games scarce as Downtown St. Louis prepares to host thousands of visiting fans.
The matchups are set for Friday’s first round games beginning with 7th-seeded Kentucky vs. 10th-seeded Santa Clara at 11:15 a.m. CT, followed by 2-seed Iowa State against 15-seed Tennessee State. The second session on Friday will tip off at 6:35 p.m. CT with 2-seed Purdue taking on 15-seed Queens (NC), as the night cap features 7th-seeded Miami (FL) against 10th-seeded Mizzou. The winners of Friday’s games will meet in second round contests on Sunday at Enterprise Center with game times to be set late Friday night.
“We anticipate a packed house at Enterprise Center, and Downtown St. Louis promises to be buzzing with energy and excitement with fans from all over the country,” said Sports Commission President Marc Schreiber. “Add to that a local favorite in Mizzou getting a chance to play postseason basketball in the city that contains its largest alumni base, and it’s a recipe for a sensational week for basketball fans and the entire region.”
Available tickets can be found at Ticketmaster and premium ticket packages including hospitality and preferred seating are available through On Location.
Fans will have an opportunity to see all eight teams in person before the tournament begins. Teams will conduct practices on Thursday, March 19 at Enterprise Center which are free and open to the public.
Practice Schedule – Thursday, March 19 (open to media and public)
| 11 – 11:40 a.m. | Santa Clara |
| 11:45 a.m. – 12:25 p.m. | Kentucky |
| 12:30 – 1:10 p.m. | Tennessee State |
| 1:15 – 1:55 p.m. | Iowa State |
| 2 – 2:40 p.m. | Queens (NC) |
| 2:45 – 3:25 p.m. | Purdue |
| 3:30 – 4:10 p.m. | Missouri |
| 4:15 – 4:55 p.m. | Miami (FL) |
Local youth basketball teams will welcome NCAA teams as they arrive in St. Louis on Wednesday. Media wishing to cover the team welcomes should contact Tim Ryan at (314) 406-5791 or tryan@stlsports.org for details.
The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament 1st / 2nd Rounds is hosted by the Missouri Valley Conference with support from the St. Louis Sports Commission.
This marks the first time the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament has been played in St. Louis since 2016. The Gateway City was set to host the NCAA 1st / 2nd Rounds in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the tournament. St. Louis has hosted NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games on 15 previous occasions, including the championship round (Final Four) three times: 1973, 1978, and 2005.