Anaheim Arena Still on NCAA Tournament List

Anaheim Arena is one of five facilities still in the running to play host to part of the 1997 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, arena general manager Brad Mayne said Tuesday.

The 1997 West Regional and two subregionals will be awarded to three of the five remaining sites--the original list of about a dozen facilities was pared to Anaheim, the new San Jose Arena, the Seattle Kingdome, the University of Utah and Boise State. Seattle, Utah and Boise State have hosted NCAA regionals.

Bill Hancock, NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament chairman, toured Anaheim Arena Oct. 13 and informed Mayne the site selection committee would decide in January. The Big West Conference would be the host if Anaheim is chosen.

“Facilities and schools that have hosted prior tournaments are given first consideration, but I think we have as good a chance as the other cities,” Mayne said. “We would not have made it to the final five without a good proposal.”

The NCAA recently chose Anaheim as host for the 1999 NCAA Division I hockey finals. The arena also was one of three finalists for the 1996 National Figure Skating Championships but lost to the San Jose Arena, Mayne said.