UPDATE: 2009 NCAA Tournament ticket application now available

UPDATED ON 4/15:

The ticket application for the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first and second round games at the Rose Garden is now online. The deadline to apply is May 15.

Click here to apply for tickets!

UPDATED on 3/25 — Statement from NCAA spokeswoman Gail Dent:

“The site is experiencing some difficulties now, but we’re currently working through the issues. Please continue to have people go to the site. The window for applications is open until May 1 so people still have time to submit their order. The site is run via ncaa.com in partnership with Ticketmaster.”

Event:
2009 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship – First and Second Rounds

When:
Thu, March 19 & Sat, March 21, 2009
Times TBD

Where:
Rose Quarter – Rose Garden
Portland, Oregon

Tickets:
Three-session packages are priced at $165.00 plus applicable service fees and include a ticket for two sessions on Thursday and one session on Saturday, for a total of three tickets for six games. Tickets go on sale on Monday, March 24, 2008 and can be purchased through NCAA.com. For more information please visit NCAA.com or RoseQuarter.com.

What:
The Rose Garden was selected to host the 2009 NCAA® Division I Men’s Basketball Championship first and second round games by the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee. Twenty-four cities will serve as hosts for the first and second round and regional games in 2009 and 2010. Games will be played at the Rose Garden on Thursday, March 19 and Saturday, March 21, 2009 with the University of Oregon being the host school.

“We are thrilled to be the host venue for the 2009 Men’s first and second round games,” stated Mike Scanlon, General Manager of the Global Spectrum-managed Rose Quarter. “It took a lot of hard work by a number of individuals in order to bring this tournament back to Oregon, including the University of Oregon, Oregon Sports Authority, the City of Portland, Portland Arena Management and Travel Portland.”

This is the first time the Rose Garden will host an NCAA Tournament. The last NCAA tournament games played in Oregon were 25 years ago in Corvallis, which were also the first and second round games. However, it will have been 34 years since Portland last hosted an NCAA Tournament (1975 NCAA Regionals).

“Obviously this was something already in place before my arrival here but as an Oregon native as well as my role at the University of Oregon, this is something that will reap tremendous dividends for the entire state,” said the Ducks’ Director of Athletics Pat Kilkenny. “The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament has evolved into one of the greatest sporting events in the country and for fans throughout the state and the Pacific Northwest to be able to experience this first hand is truly amazing. It is our hope that this becomes an event in the state we can assist with on a regular basis.”

Because of Oregon’s previous authorization of state-sanctioned sports lottery games, it has been 25 years since Oregon last hosted the NCAA Tournament. In 2005, the Oregon Sports Authority introduced a legislative bill to eliminate the state’s sports lottery games while also increasing funding for college athletics. The non-profit organization secured passage of the bill in the Oregon Legislature and then partnered with the University of Oregon, the Rose Quarter and Travel Portland to assemble and submit the successful bid to the NCAA.

“It’s truly a thrill to know that we are just one year way from the long-awaited return of March Madness® to Oregon,” said Drew Mahalic, CEO of the Oregon Sports Authority. “The anticipated arrival of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, along with its substantial economic impact, represents one of the Oregon Sports Authority’s most meaningful accomplishments on behalf of this state.”

As selected by the committee in 2003, Detroit is the host of the 2009 Final Four® and Indianapolis is the site of the 2010 Final Four.

Official NCAA-sanctioned ticket and hospitality packages are also available by visiting www.ncaa.com/hospitality or calling 800/591-9198. Hospitality packages include pregame and in-game hospitality.

The NCAA reminds fans that purchasing tickets from secondary, unauthorized vendors may result in fraudulent purchases. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from NCAA member institutions or companies authorized by the NCAA to sell or resell championship tickets.