Intense college sports culture defines this small but mighty Midwestern city
Every year since 2001 , Dayton has played host to the scuttle bout of the Men ’s March Madness basketball tournament . The ‘ First Four ’ game will be played at UD Arena again this year on March 18 and 19 .
In a part of the country that ’s renowned for its love of college basketball , Dayton andUD Arenastand out . The arena get extremely loudly on biz twenty-four hours and you ’ll never block the violent flashing lights during team introductions . Despite its small-scale - town feel outside the building , this place belch for the plot of basketball . In fact , The University of Dayton ’s Man ’s squad has a hard clip programing well - known squad to toy against them during the even season because of the Flyers ’ homecourt reward .
In the NCAA tournament , even when the Flyers are n’t participate , that passion for college basketball carry over into an galvanic environs . Most of the legal action around town is centered around business district Dayton and theOregon District , while the basketball game arena is located on the far sharpness of south Dayton . Here , we ’ve got everything you ask to recognise about being in Dayton for the jump of March Madness .
Illustration by Don Caminos for Thrillist
How do I get tickets?
Historically , ticket cost for the First Four spike when popular , nationally - order teams like Indiana ( 2022 ) , Notre Dame ( 2022 ) , or Tennessee ( 2014 ) make appearances in Dayton . For the First Four , ticket can get middling cheap when smaller programs or squad from the West Coast participate ; so if you ’re on a budget , you ’re probable to be in good physique .
UD Arena ’s on-line just the ticket office directs you to several available tail onTicketmaster . Seats for the first daytime reach from $ 145 to $ 693 for a place at substance court . Gametimeis also a great bet if you ’re on a budget ; tickets have been listed for as low as $ 40 in the upper level . Vivid Seats has cheaper buns ( $ 120 per ) to get in the room access ; Stubhub hasticketsin a exchangeable price range . There ’s also a ticket office that ’s located right between the parking luck and the front room access of the arena . It ’s expensive but the other selection is taste to find re - sellers on the street around town , of which there are many .
Tickets to get in the room access at other first - circle site are often less expensive than seats for the First Four at UD Arena because Dayton ’s capacity of 13,409 is much little than most NCAA tournament host site . Tickets for the first cycle in Cleveland start at $ 80but their area is much big , with a capacityof over 19,000 .
UD Arena|Courtesy Erik Schelkun, Elsestar Images
UD Arenahas a uniquely tall lower bowlthat surrounds the integral court which apply more lover opportunity to get close to the action . The independent pipe bowl has the best atmosphere and sightlines while the upper bowl is gamy than a distinctive tournament web site . It ’s a no - nonsense arena that regularly sell out with a lot of tickets sold to neutral lover who exist in the region .
What should I know about the venue?
UD Arena presently has the criminal record for most NCAA Tournament game host . The tournament keep coming back because UD Arena is a big - metre edifice that feels like an erstwhile - school gym and you ca n’t beat the brassy aura that get from a very energetic fanbase as well as an unbelievable marching band .
UD Arena hosts the University of Dayton Flyers , who are one of the best mid - major college basketball game course of study . The Flyers have made five NCAA Tournaments over the last 12 seasons , gain six games . In 2014 , they progressed to the Elite 8 . Dayton also has three regular time of year titles in the Atlantic 10 league . J.P. Nauseef , the former chairperson of the First Four ’s operating citizens committee , called UD Arena “ The epicentre of college basketball . ” scream fan , a raucous band and a massive jumbotron consistently make an impression on players , coaches , and the media .
DePaul head handler and former Ohio State head manager Chris Holtmann has only played a scrimmage at the arena but has seen the home courtyard reward on video . “ Why would you go ( there ) ? ” he jest , implying he had no interest in contract firsthand experience with the wild pupil organic structure .
UD Arena|Courtesy Erik Schelkun, Elsestar Images
One of Dayton ’s most famous grad is former NFL point double-decker Jon Gruden , who remains a fan of Dayton basketball , part due to his memory of game at UD Arena . “ I have a wad of passion for basketball and Dayton , he told the Springfield News .
The high spot of UD Arena is its student subdivision and its band . In the front run-in , some of the most passionate scholarly person do up as original and flight co-occurrence . The dance band film director get into a light - up vest that blinks in sync with the arena ’s lights during pre - crippled hype videos .
You wo n’t soon leave the rowdy bunch . Their signature cheer ? A blaring of the stria ’s horns quickly followed by the crowd responding “ Go , Dayton Flyers ! ” and “ Let ’s get quick to grumble ” before hype musicplaysover the speakers .
UD Arena|Courtesy Erik Schelkun, Elsestar Images
Pro bakshis : Any fan can enter the arena through the club entrance near the ticket office at the front door of the area . The lines here are normally much short !
When you ’re ready to eat , McAlister ’s Deli , a local sandwich eating house , offers deli sandwiches and sweet tea . It ’s a well - know eating place in the region for its quality grab - and - go sandwiches . Donato ’s Pizza , a popular pizzeria in the domain that ’s known for its thin crust and sweet sauce , is also for sale . For some more traditional stadium fare , theRudy Flyer Grillhas several locations around the arena and has standard arena red-hot dog , burger , and chicken sandwiches . For dessert , head over to Dip and Dots to discharge the college vibration .
Other places to eat (and watch)
Because Dayton is a basketball - obsessed metropolis , the downtown domain is full of summercater bars and breweries designed for following game . The nearbyOregon Districtis a ripe place to find yourself during your stay . Whenever I go to Dayton , this is where I come across friends to bar or brewery hops . The whole area is small and walkable so you may hit a tidy sum of spots in a few hours .
My preferent isThe Foundry , which has Sir Henry Wood - dismiss pizza pie , a great survival of the fittest of drinks , and roomy space for big groups . Local Cantina Brewing has hand truck - trend tacos and a full Tex - Mex bill of fare , while theThe Moeller Brew Barnhas an outside patio that overlooks Day Air Ballpark , home of the minor conference Dayton Dragons team . Brown Street , at the warmness of the University of Dayton ’s campus , is also line with prevention up and down the course , including local watering holes likeThe FieldhouseandJimmy ’s Ladder 11.Brixx Ice Company , place near Day Air Ballpark , has drunkenness , beefburger , sandwiches , and desserts and is well - bang among local sports fans .
Other must-dos
The Wright Patterson Air Force Museumis pass on down one of the best museum in the Midwest . Free of charge , it ’s the largest military aviation museum in the domain . you’re able to tour through the history of air by stepping in good order up to and even inside a potpourri of airplanes from every earned run average .
If you ’re down to venture beyond the city demarcation line , Cincinnati , Columbus , and Indianapolis are all within an hr drive of Dayton . Cincinnati’sReds Hall of Fameis one of the most popular baseball museums outside of Cooperstown , andOhio Stadium , rest home of the Ohio State Buckeyes , might be the prettiest college football game arena in the country . The covered stadium at the front of the stadium is designed to look like the Pantheon in Rome , and it ’s one of many excogitation factor that make “ The Horseshoe ” alone . Indianapolis is the site of theIndy 500 , rest home to the Colts and Pacers , and also hosts the yearly NFL Combine , if you ’re concerned in confabulate while these sports are out of time of year .
Final Tips
conditions in Southwest Ohio in the spring is so unpredictable that famous author Mark Twain haswritten several jokes about it . The weather in former March ranges from feeling like summer to full - on snowstorms . So pack accordingly .
last , there ’s a saying here that proves true : “ Dayton is often under construction . ” Book in some superfluous sentence while ram from place to place as there can be a lot of traffic .
