First Four starts March Madness: 4 things to know about tourney tip-off

March Madness kicks off this week at the University of Dayton Arena as the First Four gets underway Tuesday night.

Arizona State, Syracuse and UCLA are among the eight schools playing in the opening games of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

As the college basketball fans prepare for the beginning of March Madness, here are four things to know about the First Four:

RELATED: UCLA, Syracuse among teams headed to First Four

-ONLY 1 HOST: The University of Dayton Arena has hosted the games since the First Four started in 2011. Prior to that, UD hosted a "play-in" game. UD has the contract through 2022.

-ECONOMIC IMPACT: Local officials put the event's economic impact at a little more than $4 million each year. Since 2001, it is estimated to have an economic benefit of nearly $80 million for the region.

-FREE ADMISSION TO PRACTICE: Fans get in free to practices. The schedule is as follows: today, LIU Brooklyn (5:05-5:45 p.m.); Radford (5:50-6:30 p.m.); St. Bonaventure (6:35-7:15 p.m.); and UCLA (7:20-8 p.m.). On Tuesday, Texas Southern (12:05-12:45 p.m.); North Carolina Central (12:50-1:30 p.m.); Syracuse (1:35-2:15 p.m.); and Arizona State (2:20-3 p.m.).

RELATED: March Madness begins at UD Arena in Dayton

-CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE: Two teams in this year's First Four have won national men's basketball titles. UCLA has 11, winning in 1964-65, 1967-73 and 1975. Syracuse won in 2003.

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