Chainsmokers Concert Divides Fans During Final Four

Social media reaction was mixed to the DJ duo's performance between NCAA semifinal games.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:48am

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The NCAA Tournament featured a musical act between the Final Four games at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the Chainsmokers performing. This effort to appeal to more casual fans received mixed reviews on social media, with some opposing the idea of a concert interrupting the basketball action.

Why it matters

The NCAA is trying to expand the appeal of the Final Four beyond just hardcore basketball fans by incorporating more entertainment elements. However, this strategy risks alienating the core audience who may view the concert as an unwelcome distraction from the marquee basketball games.

The details

The Chainsmokers performed during the intermission between the two Final Four semifinal games at Lucas Oil Stadium. This was part of a broader effort by the NCAA to add more musical acts and festival-like programming to the Final Four weekend in order to attract a wider audience and create more of an event atmosphere beyond just the basketball competition.

  • The Chainsmokers performed between the Final Four games on April 5, 2026.

The players

The Chainsmokers

An American DJ and production duo consisting of Alex Pall and Drew Taggart.

Dave Aussenberg

A music sponsorship agent at CAA who commented on the growing demand for musical acts at major sporting events like the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“It's an event our clients are asking us for now. When the festival was first conceptualized, it was a nice-to-have complement to a weekend of basketball, but it's growing so much. ... People want entertainment, they want to make a weekend out of an event like this.”

— Dave Aussenberg, Music sponsorship agent, CAA

What’s next

The NCAA will likely continue to evaluate fan reaction and the impact of incorporating more entertainment programming into future Final Four events.

The takeaway

The NCAA's efforts to broaden the appeal of the Final Four by adding musical acts like the Chainsmokers highlights the challenge of balancing the needs of hardcore basketball fans with those of more casual sports consumers seeking a festival-like experience.