Minnesota to host 4 NCAA championship events in 2023-2025

KSTP

Minnesota has been chosen to host NCAA Division I championships in various sports from 2023 through 2025, Minnesota Sports and Events (MNSE) and the NCAA announced Wednesday.

The announcement said:

  • The 2023 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships will be held at Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota.
  • The 2023 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four will be held in Duluth at Amsoil Arena.
  • The 2024 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four will be held at Xcel Energy Center.
  • The 2025 NCAA Women’s Ice Hockey Frozen Four will be held at Ridder Arena.

Those are in addition to the upcoming 2021 Men’s Basketball Regional, the 2021 Men’s Gymnastics Championship and the 2022 Women’s Basketball Final Four the state was already awarded.

"We are excited to welcome fans, visitors, student-athletes and coaches back to our wonderful region to celebrate collegiate sports," said Melvin Tennant, chief executive officer of Meet Minneapolis and executive board member of Minnesota Sports and Events. "The NCAA has complete confidence in the University of Minnesota as the host institution for these collegiate championships, and the procurement of these events further cements the region’s national status as a proven championship-caliber host community."

MNSE said the Men’s Frozen Four in Detroit this year was projected to generate an economic impact of $10 million, while the Women’s Frozen Four and Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships had projected economic impacts of $1.2 million, showing what the Twin Cities area can expect.

"The University of Minnesota is thrilled to continue to bring the premier events in college sports to our community," Senior Associate Athletic Director Tom McGinnis said. "As we start a new partnership with Minnesota Sports and Events, we are excited to showcase the iconic venues in our community to provide these championship experiences for the student-athletes and fans."

The swimming and diving championship will be the ninth time Minnesota has hosted the event while the state has hosted the Women’s Frozen Four six times previously and the Men’s Frozen four eight times.