GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The West Michigan Sports Committee (WMSC) is hoping to bring some big collegiate events to the region in the upcoming years.
WMSC President Mike Guswiler told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that the committee was eyeing some bids for NCAA tournaments. The biggest of which include both the Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
"We're specifically focused on D1 Women's Basketball Regionals in '27. And then we're making a third try to be part of March Madness and going after D1 Men's Basketball in 2028," Guswiler said.
Guswiler says that the bid for the first and second rounds of the Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament isn't out of the realm of possibility. He notes that similarly-sized cities like Birmingham, AL and Spokane, WA have hosted in the past.
"We know that we could host it and do a great job at it," Guswiler added.
WMSC is also working with local partners like Grand Valley State, Davenport and Calvin universities to find tournaments and events at the D2 and D3 levels to bring in to West Michigan. WMSC also is working with Western Michigan University on D1 level events.
"We're going after the bid portals open with the NCAA, and you know, they're nearly 90 championships that they operate across D1, 2 and 3," says Guswiler.
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