Atlanta set to host NCAA Final Four in 2031 after city missed out due to COVID-19 cancelation in 2020

The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee has selected Atlanta, Georgia as the host site of the Final Four in 2031, the governing body announced Thursday. The event will take place April 5 and 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The committee's decision to award Atlanta the Final Four comes four years after the city lost the chance to host the Final Four amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 after the NCAA Tournament was canceled. It will mark the fifth time Atlanta has hosted the event, which included the first Final Four in 1977.

"The cancellation of the 2020 tournament, including the Men's Final Four in Atlanta, was a necessary yet devastating decision for student-athletes, coaches and fans. It significantly impacted the Association and its membership, as well as the city of Atlanta, which has repeatedly been a terrific host to the event," said Dan Gavitt, the NCAA's senior vice president of basketball. "The committee has been empathetic in its consideration of replacing the 2020 Men's Final Four for Atlanta, and ultimately the city competed favorably and won the opportunity to host again at long last in 2031. We are looking forward to working with the Atlanta team to provide another memorable Men's Final Four experience."

Atlanta also hosted the Final Four in 2002, 2007 and most recently in 2013, when Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals defeated Michigan 82-76.

Host sites for the Final Four are now decided for the next seven years, with 2025's Final Four set to return to San Antonio, which last hosted in 2018. They are as follows:

Final Four host sites

• 2025 : San Antonio
• 2026 : Indianapolis
• 2027 : Detroit
• 2028 : Las Vegas
• 2029 : Indianapolis
• 2030 : North Texas
• 2031 : Atlanta