Seattle hosts March Madness first and second rounds: Game schedule, tickets and more
Mar 21, 2025, 5:20 AM | Updated: 5:23 am
A general shot of the outside of the Climate Pledge Arena and the Space Needle. (Photo: Jacob Snow, Getty Images)
(Photo: Jacob Snow, Getty Images)
March Madness, one of the most exciting, celebrated, and gambled-upon annual sporting events, is finally here, with Seattle as its host for the first and second rounds. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for the tournament mania.
Related on MyNorthwest: UW Huskies’ Big Ten tourney hopes end with 78-62 loss to Indiana
What games are being played in Seattle
The first slate of Seattle-based games held at Climate Pledge Arena is Friday, March 21. No. 5 Memphis vs. No. 12 Colorado State starts the festivities at 11 a.m., followed by No. 4 Maryland vs. No. 13 Grand Canyon at 1:35 p.m. No. 4 Arizona vs. No. 13 Akron tips off at 4:35 p.m., with No. 5 Oregon facing No. 12 Liberty to end the day, starting at 7:10 p.m.
The second round starts Sunday, March 23, with two games that have yet to be determined.
Lexington, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Wichita, Kansas; Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Raleigh, North Carolina are the other host sites for the first two rounds alongside Seattle.
Once the first two rounds end, the Sweet 16 kicks off on March 27, followed by the Elite Eight (to be played on March 29-30) before the Final Four tournament occurs on April 5. The tournament crescendoes with the NCAA National Championship game on April 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Related on MyNorthwest: UW Huskies back in women’s NCAA Tournament for 1st time since 2018
Did any WA-based schools make the March Madness tournament?
Gonzaga was awarded the No. 8 seed in the Midwest Region, and defeated No. 9 seed Georgia in a battle of Bulldogs 89-68 to advance past the first round. Gonzaga is currently competing in its 26th tournament in a row.
For the women’s tournament, the University of Washington (UW) snapped its eight-year drought and made the tournament as one of the First Four.
More on MyNorthwest: Gee Scott compares Sam Darnold’s future to Matt Hasselbeck’s success in Seattle
March Madness tickets
Tickets are still available but are all re-sells on Ticketmaster, the official ticket site through Climate Pledge. The lowest ticket prices are $76 for the first game on Friday, according to KIRO 7, and $120 for the later games. Tickets for Sunday start at $150.
You can also get tickets for all three sessions, which start at $418.
Contributing: KIRO 7
Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.
