NCAA Selects Wells Fargo Center to Host Division I Men's Basketball East Regional in 2022
Apr 19, 2017
The NCAA today selected the Wells Fargo Center as the site of the 2022 Division I NCAA Men’s Basketball East Regional on March 25 & 27, 2022. The Wells Fargo Center continues to prove to be a destination for big-time sporting events as this marks the ninth time since 2000 that the NCAA will bring an event to the Wells Fargo Center, including the third Men’s Basketball East Regional.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the 2022 NCAA Men’s East Regional at the Wells Fargo Center,” said Comcast Spectacor’s John Page, President, Wells Fargo Complex. “The arena was designed to lure big-time events to Philadelphia and it continues to live up to its reputation. We have an outstanding history with the NCAA and we’re excited that we’ll be able to continue creating memories for the student athletes, their fans and the city of Philadelphia. We look forward to working closely with the University of Pennsylvania, PHL Sports and the NCAA in making the 2022 Men’s East Regional a great event for everyone.”
Comcast Spectacor, owner and operator of the Wells Fargo Center, is partnering with the PHL Sports and the University of Pennsylvania, which is the host institution for this event.
“The University of Pennsylvania is delighted to partner with the NCAA, PHL Sports and the Wells Fargo Center to bring March Madness back to Philadelphia,” said Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, Director of Athletics and Recreation, University of Pennsylvania. “Community matters is a core value of Penn Athletics, and hosting events like this, along with the Penn Relays and the inaugural Ivy League Basketball Tournaments, provides the opportunity to bring sports fans together in Philadelphia. We look forward to hosting a first-class event in 2022.”
The University of Pennsylvania hosted the first NCAA East Regional in 1939 at the Palestra. In addition, four other East Regionals have been hosted by Penn from 1954-57.
Philadelphia has a storied history with the Men’s Tournament, having hosted the event 28 times since 1939, most recently when La Salle University hosted the 2016 Men’s East Regional at the Wells Fargo Center in 2016. The most historic East Regional of all time, the 1992 East Regional featuring the Duke Blue Devils and the Kentucky Wildcats, was played at the Spectrum, also in Philadelphia.
The Wells Fargo Center is no stranger to hosting prestigious NCAA national events and attractions. Most recently, the Wells Fargo Center has served as the host arena to the 2016 NCAA Men’s East Regional. The Wells Fargo Center has also hosted the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four, the 2013 NCAA Men’s Basketball Second and Third Round games, the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships; the 2006 and 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, the 2001 NCAA Men’s East Regionals, and the 2000 NCAA Women's Final Four.