What is the College Basketball Crown?
Debuting in 2025, the College Basketball Crown (CBC) is an exciting addition to the college basketball postseason. This 16-team tournament provides additional postseason opportunities for teams that didn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament, giving players and fans more thrilling basketball action. The tournament will feature schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences, with additional at-large participants.
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When and Where is the College Basketball Crown?
The inaugural College Basketball Crown will take place in Las Vegas from Monday, March 31 to Sunday, April 6. Games will be held at two iconic venues: the MGM Grand Garden Arena and the T-Mobile Arena. Both venues have welcomed college basketball games in the past, including the Pac-12 Conference men’s basketball tournament. With Las Vegas serving as the host city, fans can enjoy world-class entertainment, dining, and nightlife in addition to highly competitive college basketball.
How to Buy Tickets to the College Basketball Crown
Vivid Seats, a leading ticket marketplace, is the Official Ticketing Provider of the College Basketball Crown. Whether you’re looking for premium seats close to the action or affordable options to cheer on your favorite team, Vivid Seats is the exclusive home for tickets across all of the games in the College Basketball Crown. College Basketball Crown tickets start at $20 and are currently on sale only at Vivid Seats.
The best part about this new, turnkey end-to-end ticketing experience for sports fans? Vivid Seats rewards loyal fans with discounts, ticket upgrades, among many perks through the only rewards program in the industry, Vivid Seats Rewards. By allowing fans to earn loyalty rewards on every purchase that they can redeem towards free tickets, the program provides fans with the opportunity to attend more of their favorite games.
College Basketball Crown Schedule for 2025
Here’s a breakdown of the 2025 College Basketball Crown tournament schedule:
- First Round: Monday, March 31 to Tuesday, April 1 (The MGM Grand Garden Arena)
- Quarterfinals: Wednesday, April 2 to Thursday, April 3 (The MGM Grand Garden Arena)
- Semifinals: Saturday, April 5 (T-Mobile Arena)
- Championship: Sunday, April 6 (T-Mobile Arena)
How are Teams Selected?
Teams that do not secure a spot in the NCAA tournament will have a chance to compete in the College Basketball Crown. Each of the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences will receive two automatic entries into the tournament. The remaining 10 spots will be filled with at-large selections made by a committee that evaluates teams based on their performance during the regular season.
The selection process for the CBC will follow Selection Sunday for March Madness, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 16. Once the NCAA tournament bracket is revealed, the CBC will release its 16-team bracket shortly after.
What is the College Basketball Crown Bracket?
The participating teams for the 2025 College Basketball Crown have yet to be announced. Once the bracket is revealed, Vivid Seats will have a detailed breakdown.
Know Before You Go: Helpful Tips
- How to Access Your Tickets: Vivid Seats is the Official Ticketing Partner of the College Basketball Crown and your go-to source for tickets, from the first round to the championship. As the exclusive source for tickets to every game in the tournament, you must download the Vivid Seats app to access your tickets before arriving at the arena.
- Hotel Accommodations: Enjoy convenient hotel accommodations near the stadiums hosting the College Basketball Crown, including MGM Grand, New York-New York, and Park MGM, all offering easy access to the tournament action.
- Game Day Tips: Arrive early to enjoy pregame festivities in Toshiba Plaza. Before heading to the game, ensure you’re following the bag policies for the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena, which typically allow only small clutches or clear bags that meet size requirements, with exceptions made for medically necessary items.
How to Watch the College Basketball Crown
The College Basketball Crown will be broadcast on FOX and FS1, ensuring fans across the country can catch all the action. Here’s a complete breakdown of the broadcast schedule by day:
Monday, March 31 - The MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Game 1: 3:00 PM (ET) | FS1
- Game 2: 5:30 PM | FS1
- Game 3: 8:30 PM | FS1
- Game 4: 11:00 PM | FS1
Tuesday, April 1 - The MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Game 5: 3:00 PM | FS1
- Game 6: 5:30 PM | FS1
- Game 7: 8:30 PM | FS1
- Game 8: 11:00 PM | FS1
Wednesday, April 2 - The MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Quarterfinals: 7:00 PM | FS1
- Quarterfinals: 9:30 PM | FS1
Thursday, April 3 - The MGM Grand Garden Arena
- Quarterfinals: 7:00 PM | FS1
- Quarterfinals: 9:30 PM | FS1
Saturday, April 5 - T-Mobile Arena
- Semifinals: 1:30 PM | FOX
- Semifinals: 4:00 PM | FOX
Sunday, April 6 - T-Mobile Arena
- Championship: 5:30 PM | FOX