Men's Final Four returning to Atlanta in 2031

It’s never too early to start planning ahead. Or at least it’s not when you’re on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee.

On Thursday afternoon, the committee announced that the 2031 Men’s Final Four will return to Atlanta, marking the fifth time the city has hosted the event — the first occurring in 1977 and the most recent in 2013 when Louisville thought they won a championship until the NCAA said no sir. Atlanta was scheduled to host the 2020 Final Four before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the postseason.

Kentucky has yet to play a Final Four in “Catlanta” throughout the program’s history. The Wildcats lost in the Sweet 16 in 1977 and 2002 in Atlanta and then fell in the Round of 32 in 2007. We won’t speak of what happened in 2013 (and Louisville technically can’t either).

The 2031 Men’s Final Four will be held on April 5 and 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Georgia Tech serving as the “host” school.

ATL is BACK on the clock 🚨⏰

Atlanta will host the 2031 #MFinalFour on April 5 and 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, marking their 5th time hosting. pic.twitter.com/DL5O9RzBID

— NCAA Men's Final Four (@MFinalFour) August 29, 2024

Once 2031 does hit, Atlanta will become just the eighth city to host at least five Final Fours (once at the Omni Coliseum and the previous three at the Georgia Dome), joining a list that includes Kansas City, Indianapolis, New York, Louisville, New Orleans, Seattle, and San Antonio. In the state of Kentucky, Louisville hosted the event five times in an 11-year span (1958-69) at Freedom Hall while Lexington’s Rupp Arena hosted just one Final Four all the way back in 1985.

Atlanta has also hosted the Women’s Final Four in 1993 and 2003. It is the future home of the 2025 College Football Playoff Championship game and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Between now and 2031, we’ll see San Antonio (2025), Indianapolis (2026, 2029), Detroit (2027), Las Vegas (2028), and North Texas (2030) set up shop as homes to the Men’s Final Four. Preliminary round sites for the 2027 and 2028 Men’s NCAA Tournament will be announced in early October.

Prepare accordingly, BBN.