First Four Festival canceled in Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The University of Dayton and First Four Local Organizing Committee announced Wednesday there will be many  exciting community events surrounding the NCAA First Four this coming March; however, it will not include a 2nd annual First Four Festival.

The inaugural festival was held at the Oregon District in 2012.  Officials confirmed the NCAA is going though a transition in personnel and decided it best to focus on the upcoming tournament rather than the festival and its sponsorships. 

University of Dayton athletic officials supported its decision in an interview Wednesday.

"Its understandable," said Doug Hauschild, who is the University's director of sports information and media relations. "We see where their (NCAA) priorities are and where they probably should be. The festival is something we would have liked to have had but we'll just have to make sure we do a good job for the teams and the fans who come to watch basketball."

Dayton is the kick-off of March Madness through atleast 2015.  The NCAA First Four, second and third rounds begin Sunday, March 17 and conclude Sunday, March 24.

A statement released Wednesday by UD emphasized discussions surrounding a long-term partnership between the NCAA and Dayton are still underway. Those negotiations along with staff changes prompted the NCAA to request any public festivals be put on hold.

While the festival won’t be held in 2013, there are several public events scheduled including the First 4 – 4 Miler run.

The First Four Festival was a day of celebrating the NCAA tournament in Dayton.  It included live coverage of team selections on jumbo TVs.  Officials are confident it will be back in 2014.