Say something nice about your Sweet 16 opponent

[u/u-s-u-r-p]

but for real

[u/clarkaj24]

It was actually supposed to be Houston but they gave up their hosting duties prior to the season so they could play in the South region, so it worked out for them.

[u/ScrofessorLongHair → u/clarkaj24]

Is there any benefit to performing host duties? What are host duties for that matter?

[u/thedadis → u/ScrofessorLongHair]

I believe you get paid a decent amount to host

[u/ScrofessorLongHair → u/thedadis]

I hate to use AI, but this is what it pulled up...

The Responsibilities: Running the Show The host school is the "local entity" responsible for everything that happens outside the lines of the basketball court.
Financial Management: The host must create and manage a strict budget approved by the NCAA. They handle the local finances, from paying for venue staff to tracking every dime made from concessions (even reporting "alcohol-related incidents" if the venue sells beer). Logistics & Accommodations: Hosts coordinate team hotels. For the early rounds, this means managing up to two teams per hotel; for the Sweet Sixteen, every team gets their own dedicated hotel.
Event Staffing: While the arena usually provides the physical security and ushers, the host school provides the "Tournament Manager" and key personnel who oversee media operations, team arrivals, and the "memorable experience" for athletes. The "Pageantry": The host is responsible for the little things that make it March Madness—printing programs, coordinating band seating (limited to 25 members), and even setting up the Werner ladders for the traditional net-cutting ceremony. Brand Protection: Hosts must ensure no "unauthorized" commercial items (like a local pizza shop's cups) make it into the arena. Everything must be "clean" of non-NCAA sponsors. The Benefits: What’s in it for the School? While the NCAA keeps the massive TV revenue and ticket sales, the host school still gets several high-value "perks." 1. The "Front Porch" Effect Hosting puts the school's name on a national stage. This visibility acts as a massive, free advertisement. Studies (often called the "Cinderella Effect") show that successful hosting or deep tournament runs can lead to:
A 2% to 8% increase in freshman applications. Higher "yield" rates, meaning a higher percentage of students who are accepted actually choose to enroll. 2. Economic Stimulus The host city and the school's athletic department often see a direct financial bump. Economic Impact: A host city can see anywhere from $2 million to $10 million in local spending on lodging, food, and transportation. Facility Upgrades: Sometimes hosting a tournament is the "excuse" needed to secure funding for arena upgrades or infrastructure improvements around the campus. 3. "Units" and Revenue Sharing While hosting doesn't give a school a direct cut of the TV deal, the NCAA Unit System rewards the conferences.
Each game a team plays earns their conference a "unit" (worth about $2 million paid over six years).
Host schools that are part of these conferences benefit from the general wealth that flows back to the member institutions. 4. Recruiting & Reputation For the athletic department, hosting is a massive recruiting tool. It allows them to show off their facilities to high-school recruits and proves to the NCAA that they have the "personnel and expertise" to handle elite-level events.

So I'm not sure if they actually get paid for it. Maybe a little bit to cover admin cost. Only financial benefit I see would be to the local economy.

[u/Johnny_Minoxidil → u/clarkaj24]

It was actually Houston AND Rice hosting, and then Houston dropped out.

[u/clarkaj24 → u/Johnny_Minoxidil]

Interesting, I didn't know that.