The NCAA has announced that Des Moines will host the first and second rounds of the Division 1 men’s basketball championships in March 2028, according to a news release from Catch Des Moines. Des Moines has hosted the tournament three times before, in 2023, 2019 and 2016. Drake University will serve as the host institution for the tournament, which will be played at Wells Fargo Arena. “March Madness is the gold standard among regional sporting events, and every time it comes to town our community shows up loud and proud,” Catch Des Moines President and CEO Greg Edwards said in a prepared statement. “As a now four-time host, we’re no longer the underdog, because we’ve worked hard to build up an incredible resume. We don’t take anything for granted, and I think that shows in how we roll out the blue carpet to make the teams feel welcome and to make sure our region is ready for its close-up.”