Everything You Need to Know About March Madness in Wichita, Kansas

Nestled in the nation's heartland, Wichita is set to host a series of first and second round Men's NCAA tournament games March 20-22. Hosted by Wichita State University, Kansas’ largest city (just under 400,000 people) will come alive for a week with rabid basketball fans.

Wichita’s DNA is full of travel and basketball; it houses two unique flight-focused attractions and a world-renowned space museum just a short drive away. The state proudly boasts powerhouse University of Kansas Jayhawks as well the respectable Kansas State. And then there’s the Wichita State Shockers, who in 2013 entered the tournament as a huge underdog and went on an unbelievable run to the Final Four. Current NBA stars Fred Van Vleet and Austin Reeves both played at Wichita State; the city has basketball pride you won't be able to ignore while you’re in the building at this year’s tournament.

Tucked in the heart of downtown lies INTRUST Bank Arena, the site of this year’s games; it doubles as a concert venue and the home of the minor league hockey franchise The Wichita Thunder. The arena just celebrated its 15th anniversary and has played a major role in the expansion of Wichita as a cultural center. Kansas is a state that feels central to Midwestern culture but sits adjacent to the South—Wichita is just a 5 hour drive from Dallas. Here we’ll give you everything you need to know about a couple of basketball-filled days in Wichita.

The official site of the NCAA is your grand central station to purchase tickets for first and second round games, but INTRUST Bank Arena has also posted links to Select A Seat on their social media accounts. Sections 102, 104, and 115-117 are recommended as you’ll get the full scope of this intimate venue sitting near center court. If you're looking to save some money, Sections 214-217 give you an elevated view while still being central to the court.

For visuals, I always check my seat on a review site like this before I buy tickets ahead of games at INTRUST. If you want more info about carry-in policies and other recommendations, here's everything you need to know.Tickets are sold in afternoon or evening sessions, two games apiece. However, if you have an all sessions ticket, you can stay for all four games. Downtown Wichita is very walkable so if your team loses early and you don’t feel like sticking around, there’s plenty to do (more on that below).

Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is the preferable option if you’re flying in from out of state and is just a 10 minute rideshare to the arena. The following airlines all service Wichita – American, Delta, Southwest, United, and Alaska.

If you’re coming from larger hubs like Dallas, NY, LA, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta or Houston, you’re likely to find a direct flight. If flying directly into Wichita isn't possible and you’d rather rent a car, Oklahoma City (2 hour, 20 minute drive) or Kansas City (2 hour, 50 minute drive) are good options. While that type of drive might feel like a slog, you'll certainly blend in with the locals. Midwesterners love a long drive—anything under 10 hours is considered “close.” I’m from Milwaukee and barring an extremely cheap, direct flight from Milwaukee to Wichita, the 11 hour drive is absolutely something I would knock out in a day.

INTRUST Bank Arena is a modern, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue. With seating for more than 15,000 to go along with a range of suites, loge boxes, and several hundred premium seats, it’s one of the premier arenas in the Midwest. Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, home of the NBA’s Bucks, seats 18,000 so it's just a tad smaller than that.

Because the building houses regular concerts and the Thunder also call INTRUST home, you’ll find great food options here. Several stalls allow you to order through the Doordash app for convenience. For a local shout, grab some smoked pork nachos at Rub My Belly BBQ near section 124 or Coop’s Chicken Kitchen for crispy chicken tenders and fries near section 219.

Thursday, March 20th

INTRUST Bank Arena will host the No. 1 team in the Midwest Region in the Houston Cougars, who rolled to both the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. En route to another stellar campaign, they tallied 30 wins for the fourth straight year, tying Gonzaga for the second-longest streak in Division 1 history.

Speaking of the Zags, a win in the opening round could land them face-to-face with the aforementioned Cougars. That would provide some early-tournament drama for fans descending on Wichita next weekend.

If the NCAA handed out a most improved award, look no further than the Missouri Tigers. A year after going 0-19 in conference play, Mizzou became just the third high-major team to ever rebound from a winless conference season and still make the tournament. The Tigers also beat a trio of top-five teams this season—Kansas (back in December), Florida (January), and Alabama (February). If there's a team that could make a deep run, the winner of the projected second-round matchup between Missouri and Texas Tech could be one to watch.

For something ultra-local and great for young traveling hoops fans, hop in a rideshare and head toward Wichita State’s campus for aThe Field House. Located in an old building with low ceilings and a lack of light befitting a college bar, this sports bar keeps prices aimed at students (read: low) and you can play darts, foosball, or the jukebox.

A bit further east Deano's Grill and Tapworks caters to a wider age bracket and has a variety of options from Wichita Brewing Co. As for food, give the bottomless shoestring onions, duck wings, or one of their many oven fired pizzas a try.

About a 15 minute drive away from the arena, you’ll find the ultra-popular Miya Izakaya, which serves up Japanese and Korean fare and is known for their karaoke. Any menu where you can order fries and an authentic sushi roll deserves your attention. Their Korean fried chicken is a must-order!

Pumphouse should also be on your list, especially if you’re in the mood to walk off a loss (or in-arena food). Located near the arena, they offer specialty Midwest items (don’t ever visit a city in this region without ordering cheese curds) and specialty pizzas like the beer, pig, & cheese.

They’ve also got weekly trivia (Wednesdays) and DJs every Friday and Saturday.

Housed in an old airport terminal, Kansas’ Aviation Museum is a worthy stop. The art deco building hosts a Black aviators exhibit, a display highlighting the women of aviation, and an aviation hall of fame.

Here’s an idea: The Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the 10 largest in the country, is a great place to play a March Madness-themed game. Bring a bingo card of all the mascots from the tournament and see how many you can find. Badgers, wolverines, wildcats, razorbacks…you get the idea.

Sometimes we all need to let loose our inner child and find an adult playground. Chicken N Pickle has exactly what you're looking for. It's an entertainment complex with a fast casual dining restaurant, 10 pickleball courts, two bocce ball courts, a bar, a game room with ping pong, and TVs.

Lastly, if you’re looking to blow off some steam, swing by Axe to Grind for a classic yet therapeutic experience of heaving a medieval weapon at a wooden target. Challenge your friends and settle any lingering bets from the weekend with axes and beverages.

Don’t fall for the trap and pass Wichita off as a flyover town; it’s a perfect encapsulation of the best of the Midwest. Beware the unpredictable weather that March brings this part of the country, and buckle up for an unforgettable trip.

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