Skip to content

NCAA President Mark Emmert excited to continue playing in large stadiums

Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports

It doesn't get much bigger than AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and NCAA president Mark Emmert shared the excitement of the near 80,000 fans in attendance to watch the NCAA Championship game Monday.

Along with setting the NCAA Championship game attendance record with 79,238 packed in to watch UConn defeat Kentucky, a combined 158,682 fans attended the two-day (Final Four on Saturday and the title game) event to break a previous record, according to the Associated Press.

With figures like that, it's no wonder Emmert has committed to continue playing large stadiums.

"I know there's some critique about playing in a big venue like this ... or somewhere else," Emmert said. "But the reality is you can get 80,000 people in to watch a game, and that's pretty exciting.

"There may be people that would like to be in a tighter arena, but not the 60,000 that wouldn't be there."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox