NCAA tourney returning to SLC

Men's basketball • EnergySolutions Arena to host early-round games in 2017.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Arizona Wildcats leave the court after beating the Harvard Crimson in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) and Harvard Crimson center Kenyatta Smith (25) jump for the tip off as the Wildcats face the Crimson in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune

Pittsburgh Panthers center Steven Adams (13) is fouled by Wichita State Shockers forward Cleanthony Early (11) as the Panthers face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) scores while defended by Southern University Jaguars guard Derick Beltran (2) as the Bulldogs face the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune

The Pittsburgh band performs as the Panthers face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Spike the Bulldog entertains the crowd as Gonzaga faces the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Drew Barham (43) celebrates a three pointer as the Bulldogs face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Wichita fans cheer as the Shockers lead Gonzaga in the first half in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) celebrates with teammates as the Bulldogs face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) dunks as the Bulldogs face the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune

as the Wildcats face the Bruins in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Wichita State Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) celebrates with his teammates after beating Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune

Arizona Wildcats guard Mark Lyons (2) brings the ball down court as the Wildcats face the Bruins in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

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Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune The Arizona Wildcats leave the court after beating the Harvard Crimson in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) and Harvard Crimson center Kenyatta Smith (25) jump for the tip off as the Wildcats face the Crimson in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Pittsburgh Panthers center Steven Adams (13) is fouled by Wichita State Shockers forward Cleanthony Early (11) as the Panthers face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) scores while defended by Southern University Jaguars guard Derick Beltran (2) as the Bulldogs face the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune The Pittsburgh band performs as the Panthers face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Spike the Bulldog entertains the crowd as Gonzaga faces the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Drew Barham (43) celebrates a three pointer as the Bulldogs face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Wichita fans cheer as the Shockers lead Gonzaga in the first half in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) celebrates with teammates as the Bulldogs face the Shockers in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Kelly Olynyk (13) dunks as the Bulldogs face the Jaguars in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune as the Wildcats face the Bruins in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Wichita State Shockers forward Carl Hall (22) celebrates with his teammates after beating Gonzaga in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Arizona Wildcats guard Mark Lyons (2) brings the ball down court as the Wildcats face the Bruins in the NCAA tournament at EnergySolutions Arena on Thursday, March 21, 2013.

The Salt Lake Tribune

· November 17, 2014 4:48 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The NCAA basketball tournament will return to EnergySolutions Arena in 2017 with the University of Utah as the host school, the NCAA announced Monday.

Games will be played March 16 and 18 (Thursday and Saturday), following the First Four games that week in Dayton, Ohio.

The NCAA has reverted to labeling the regional games as "first- and second-round" contests.

A similar stage of the tournament was held at ESA in 2013, when Wichita State and Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16.

The University of Utah had hoped to land a tournament bid in 2016, but a conflict with a major convention reduced the number of available hotel rooms, so 2017 was the next viable option.