(Des Moines, IA) -- Des Moines will host first and second round games of the men's N-C-double-A basketball tourney in 2023. Des Moines previously hosted the tourney at Wells Fargo Arena, in 2016 and 2019. Drake University will act as the host school.
Years available during this bid cycle were 2023 – 2026. Hosts for upcoming tournaments in 2021 and 2022 were selected during the bid cycle that awarded Des Moines in 2019.
The Greater Des Moines Partnership says the men's tourney had a $8 million impact on the local economy in 2019.
"In the last few months, it seems every day there's been more bad news, this is cancelled, this is postponed, hotels are down, restaurants are down, small business is down, this helps lift spirits just a bit," said Greg Edwards of Catch Des Moines.
Drake Athletic Director Brian Hardin says they're thrilled to be the host city again. "To see the Drake name and logo on the basketball court and know that's going around the world, it's fantastic for us it allows us to continue to introduce people to Drake and reintroduce people to Drake, we're just thrilled to be a part of this."