The NCAA has announced that the Charlotte 49ers will serve as host for the First and Second Rounds of the 2011 Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The event will take place at Time Warner Cable Arena in uptown Charlotte. The dates for the first and second rounds are currently slated for March 18 and 20, 2011.

The 49ers have a long history of hosting NCAA Championship events, including the 1994 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four and most recently, the 2008 NCAA Division I East Regional, held at Time Warner Cable Arena.

"We are thrilled to again be selected as host for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament," said 49ers Director of Athletics Judy Rose. "We enjoy teamming up with the city and with the folks at Time Warner Cable Arena to put on a first-class event. The success we enjoyed as a city in hosting the 2008 East Regional played a large role in getting the NCAA to return here so quickly. We continually strive to help bring quality events to the city and are excited that in 2011 eyes will once again be focused on Charlotte."

The 49ers hosted the 1991 and 1993 NCAA Men's Basketball Southeast Regionals as well as the 2008 East Regional and the 1999 NCAA Men's First and Second Rounds. Meanwhile, with 80 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament games hosted, the city of Charlotte ranks third in tournament history behind Kansas City (116) and Salt Lake City (83). Charlotte has served as the host city 20 times since 1958. In addition, Charlotte hosted the 1996 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four and is one of just 12 cities that have hosted both an NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Final Four and an NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Final Four. For added measure, Charlotte also served as host of the 1999 and 2000 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer College Cups.

Ticket information for the First and Second Rounds of the 2011 Division I Men's Basketball Championship will be released at a later date.