March Madness Brings Big Crowds to Philadelphia's Xfinity Mobile Arena

Early-round NCAA tournament games draw thousands of fans to the city

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:55pm

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March Madness brought early-round NCAA tournament games to Philadelphia this weekend, drawing big crowds to Xfinity Mobile Arena. Nearly 20,000 fans attended the first session of games on Friday, including a matchup between the No. 6-ranked Tennessee Volunteers and the No. 11 Miami RedHawks. Despite early exits for local teams, the tournament run was a special journey for fans like Miami supporter Tiki Wackowski, who painted his entire body red for the RedHawks' postseason push.

Why it matters

March Madness is a major annual sporting event that generates significant economic activity and tourism for host cities. Philadelphia's hosting of early-round games highlights the city's status as a premier sports destination and its ability to accommodate large crowds for high-profile events.

The details

The first- and second-round games of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament were held at Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 20 and 22. One of the matchups featured the University of Tennessee taking on Miami University (Ohio), a mid-major program that entered the tournament on a 31-game winning streak. Tennessee point guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie finished with 29 points and nine assists in the Volunteers' 78-56 first-round win over the RedHawks.

  • The NCAA March Madness tournament games were held at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on March 20 and 22, 2026.
  • The first session of games on March 20 drew nearly 20,000 fans.

The players

Tiki Wackowski

A Miami RedHawks fan who painted his entire body red to support his team's March Madness run.

Ja'Kobi Gillespie

The Tennessee Volunteers point guard who scored 29 points and had 9 assists in the team's first-round win over Miami.

Jasmine Bascoe

A sophomore guard for the Villanova women's basketball team, which was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a long journey for sure. It's been inspiring. You talk about an underdog story, how special that is, and I think it's a testament to the fact that if you believe in yourself, and you believe in a group, anything's possible.”

— Tiki Wackowski, Miami RedHawks fan

“Everyone was just super genuine, very real, [and] said things to you straight. That's what you want as a player. We're all doing this for our community, the people around us, and it shows on the court. The way we move the ball, the way we encourage each other, and I don't know what athlete wouldn't want to be a part of that.”

— Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova women's basketball sophomore guard

What’s next

The NCAA tournament will continue with the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight rounds in the coming weeks, with the Final Four taking place in Atlanta on April 5 and 7.

The takeaway

Philadelphia's hosting of the early rounds of the NCAA March Madness tournament demonstrates the city's ability to accommodate large sporting events and attract passionate fans from across the region. Despite early exits for local teams, the tournament run provided an inspiring underdog story and highlighted the community-driven spirit of college basketball.