The tournament that once made Michael Jordan and Trae Young famous is coming back to PPG Paints Arena, for the first time since 2018.

In a year highlighted by top seeded Gonzaga, and the farewell tour for longtime Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, there is plenty to look out for when games kickoff on Thursday afternoon.

With Covid-19 putting a pause to the games in 2020 and limited fans in 2021, this will be the first full capacity tournament crowd in almost three years.

The madness in Pittsburgh kicks off on Friday, with Loyola Chicago taking on Ohio State. Following that matchup, Pennsylvania powerhouse Villanova University will take on Delaware in a battle of east coast teams. Later on, University of Alabama Birmingham will play Houston, and Chattanooga will look to upset Illinois.

Looking to attend one of these fantastic events? Here’s our last-minute advice for purchasing tickets to the big event:

• When looking for tickets, they sell by “session” and not by matchup. Meaning, it will sell tickets for two games, instead of one.
• It is smart to look at all ticketing websites to gauge the pricing options, and to achieve the best possible deal. For example, the first session of games may be more expensive, as there are regional teams like Villanova and Delaware playing.
• Free all day Friday and Sunday? Then buy the ticket bundle for all games! It is cheaper to buy in bulk, as it guarantees revenue for all games.
• The earlier the better! Prices will spike prior to game time, so secure those tickets right away.

If you can’t make it this time around – this won’t be the last time the NCAA Tournament travels to Pittsburgh. To ensure you can snag tickets for future appearances, scout out special ticket packages months before, and you can gain premium tickets for the same price

If from out of town, book a hotel before they fill up with basketball hungry fans (and be sure to plan a time to visit all that Pittsburgh has to see! Not only is it beautiful, but it’s cost efficient)

If you choose to travel to the arena to watch the madness unfold, don’t forget to use these helpful tips to buy tickets. And make sure not to miss out on Loyola Chicago led by Sister Jean, and Villanovia coached by Jay Wright, to make some noise in PPG Paints Arena on Friday!