Nov. 17, 2014

MALIBU, Calif. - Pepperdine University will host the West Regional of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at STAPLES Center for a third time in six years, as the NCAA announced which sites will put on future preliminary competitions today.

Pepperdine, which is partnered with AEG/STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, has been awarded the 2018 NCAA West Regional. The dates will be March 22 and 24, 2018.

The Waves hosted the event for the first time in 2013, and will do so again at the end of this season on March 26 and 28, 2015.

"We are thankful that the NCAA has entrusted us with a third West Regional in such a short amount of time," Pepperdine Director of Athletics Steve Potts said. "The 2013 event went extremely well and we look forward to putting on two more exciting regionals both this season and again in 2018."

Lee Zeidman, President of STAPLES Center, said: "STAPLES Center and AEG are incredibly excited that the NCAA has selected our venue along with our partners at Pepperdine University and the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission to host the 2018 West Regional. Hosting March Madness in downtown Los Angeles at STAPLES Center for the third time in six years is truly an honor and we are looking forward to our continued relationship with the NCAA moving forward."

A limited number of tickets for the 2015 NCAA West Regional are still available, as are premier-level ticket packages and private suites. All can be purchased through the STAPLES Center website.

The 2013 event, which saw Wichita State advance to the Final Four, was the first time that Los Angeles had hosted NCAA Tournament games since 1994, and it was the 12th time overall.

Los Angeles hosted the Final Four in 1968 and 1972 (UCLA won the title both years), the West Regional in 1966, 1969, 1973, 1976, 1984 and 1994 and early-round games in 1979, 1981 and 1988. UCLA also won two titles coming out of a Los Angeles-hosted West Regional in 1969 and 1973, as did Georgetown in 1984.

The 2013 competition was the first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament event at STAPLES Center, which opened in 1999. The Los Angeles Sports Arena hosted the two Final Fours and the 1994 NCAA West Regional, while UCLA's Pauley Pavilion was the site on the other eight occasions.

The NCAA announced future preliminary-round sites between 2016 and 2018 today. Two other Southern California sites will host during this cycle. The Big West Conference will host the 2016 West Regional at the Honda Center, and San Diego State will put on first and second-round games in 2018 at Viejas Arena.