Wichita will join Dayton as an opening-round host for the 2027 and 2028 Division I men's basketball tournaments after the NCAA expanded the championship field from 68 to 76 teams.
Each city will stage three games on the Tuesday and three on the Wednesday after Selection Sunday. Across Wichita and Dayton, that produces 12 opening-round games over two days before the 64-team bracket continues.
Dayton has hosted the start of the men's tournament since 2001. The Wichita award adds a second opening-round site rather than replacing Dayton's long-running role.
The Division I Men's Basketball Committee selected Wichita from several interested cities. The Men's Basketball Oversight Committee approved the recommendation on July 9.
The NCAA announcement identifies Wichita as host for two tournament years. It does not establish a permanent second site beyond 2028, and later host selections remain separate decisions.
The expansion changes the entry path for more teams and adds inventory for venues and broadcasters. It also creates travel and scheduling questions that the full selection, seeding and bracketing procedures will need to address.
The NCAA said the complete principles and procedures for the 2027 championship would be posted later in the summer. Until then, the host and game counts are final while some bracket mechanics remain forthcoming.
A larger field does not guarantee a particular conference or team more bids. At-large and automatic qualification decisions will still be made under the championship's adopted selection procedures.
For Wichita, the concrete award is six opening-round games in each of 2027 and 2028. For viewers, the first visible structural change is that March Madness will begin simultaneously in two cities.