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Sacramento Gears Up to Host Women's March Madness Sweet 16 and Elite 8
The city expects an economic boost of $10 million and 13,000 hotel room nights during the tournament.
Mar. 21, 2026 at 4:22am
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Sacramento is preparing to host the women's NCAA Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games at the Golden 1 Center from March 27-30, 2026. The event is expected to bring an estimated $10 million economic impact and 13,000 hotel room nights to the city. This will be the first time Sacramento has hosted the women's tournament since 2010, and local businesses and residents are excited for the influx of basketball fans and the boost to the local economy.
Why it matters
Hosting high-profile sporting events like the women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 is a major opportunity for Sacramento to showcase the city, drive tourism, and generate economic activity. The tournament will put Sacramento in the national spotlight and provide a boost to local businesses, especially those in the Downtown Commons (DOCO) area around the Golden 1 Center.
The details
The women's NCAA Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games will take place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento from March 27-30, 2026. This will be the first time Sacramento has hosted the women's tournament since 2010, when the city hosted a regional round at the former Arco Arena. Visit Sacramento estimates the event will have an economic impact of $10 million and generate around 13,000 hotel room nights over the course of the week-long tournament.
- The women's NCAA Basketball Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games will take place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento from March 27-30, 2026.
- The last time Sacramento hosted the women's NCAA Tournament was in 2010 at Arco Arena.
The players
Golden 1 Center
The home arena of the Sacramento Kings NBA team and a major events venue in downtown Sacramento.
Visit Sacramento
The official destination marketing organization for the city of Sacramento, responsible for promoting tourism and events in the region.
What they’re saying
“Having the women's Sweet 16 in the Elite Eight will put the national spotlight on Sacramento, bringing those people in from out of town to be here with their families, to come see those teams compete and spend their money here locally is a huge impact to the local economy.”
— David Edie, Visit Sacramento
What’s next
The city and local businesses are preparing for an influx of basketball fans and tourists during the women's NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games at the Golden 1 Center from March 27-30, 2026.
The takeaway
Hosting high-profile sporting events like the women's NCAA Tournament is a major opportunity for Sacramento to boost its profile, drive tourism, and generate economic activity for local businesses. The tournament will put the city in the national spotlight and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy following the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
