General | March 14, 2023 | 18:22

Fans know Detroit is a basketball city. These sentiments were recently confirmed through the awarding of the 2024 NCAA® Men's Basketball Midwest Regional and the 2027 NCAA® Men's Final Four®—which will bring the iconic championship event back to Ford Field for the first time since 2009.  With this year's March Madness® upon us, here are a few ways fans in Detroit can celebrate and commemorate college basketball's most prestigious event.
 
Brackets and Buzzer-Beating Buckets
The Motor City has locations throughout the Detroit region to experience the thrilling action of March Madness and enjoy Detroit's culture, food and hospitality. The Detroit region is home to a variety of popular sports bars where fans can cheer on their favorite teams and monitor their tournament brackets while appreciating exceptional food and drinks. For the best places to catch the March Madness action, check out visitdetroit.com.
 
Magic, G. Rice, The Fab Five and The Flintstones
While March Madness is an exciting time for college sports fans to experience all that is college hoop from buzzer beaters to Cinderella stories, it's also an opportunity to celebrate the history and traditions of college basketball—and Michigan has plenty of history to boast about.
 
From the Magic Johnson-led 1979 Michigan State NCAA Champions to the 1989 University of Michigan National Champions, the Wolverine's trend-setting "Fab Five" team that played in consecutive National Championships in 1992 and 1993 and the "Flintstones" of the 2000 Michigan State National Champions, the state of Michigan has produced some of the most iconic players and teams in college basketball history.
 
Looking back at some of the most iconic Final Four moments in the state's history, our minds immediately go back to 1979 and the legendary "Magic vs. Bird" NCAA championship game that is still the most-watched college basketball game 44 years later. In 1989, University of Michigan's Glen Rice set a record for the most points scored in a single NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, leading the Wolverines to a thrilling overtime win and the National Championship.
 
Each One Teach One
While it's important to look back on the past during the Final Four, it's also necessary to look toward the future. In the Detroit community, that means providing opportunities for youth to get involved in basketball by offering a variety of programs for kids of all ages and skill levels. From Detroit PAL clinics to the annual Greg Kelser basketball camps to age-group tournaments and leagues, there are plenty of opportunities in the Detroit region for young basketball players to get involved and develop their skills. To learn more about the opportunities available in your neighborhood, we recommend checking with your local recreation department, your child's school, or community programs like Breakthrough Basketball or Pistons Academy. 
 
If you're looking for more information about the sporting events and activities happening in Detroit, be sure to check out our events page for all the latest updates and information.