Cleveland to host NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at Quicken Loans Arena in 2015

CLEVELAND - March Madness is returning to Cleveland and this time the stakes will be even higher.

The NCAA announced Monday that Cleveland will host the Midwest Regional in 2015.

Sweet 16 games will be played at Quicken Loans Arena on Thursday, March 26, 2015 and the Elite 8 regional final will be on Saturday, March 28, 2015.

“This event will bring thousands of visitors to Cleveland, showcase the city to sports fans across the country and infuse over $5 million into the local economy,” David Gilbert, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission said in a news release.

Columbus will also be a site for tournament games in 2015, hosting second and third round contests at Nationwide Arena on March 20 and 22.

The tournament's first four games have been played annually in Dayton and that tradition will also continue in 2014 and 2015.

Los Angeles, Syracuse and Houston will hold the three other regionals for the 2015 tournament.

First and second round games were played in Cleveland in the 2011 men's tournament, with Marquette and Ohio State advancing to the Sweet 16. The city has also hosted men's tournament games in 2000 and 2005 at Wolstein Center, as well as the women's Final Four at 'The Q' in 2007.

The Mid-American Conference, along with the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, will serve as Cleveland's hosts for the regional site.