Commission gives informal OK for chairman to sign letter backing bid to host NCAA preliminary rounds

The Sedgwick County Commission signaled informal support on June 10 for a county-backed bid to host NCAA preliminary-round basketball games, directing staff to circulate a draft letter that the chairman may sign.

A staff member told the commission that local partners — the arena, VISIT Wichita and Wichita State University — are seeking to host the expanded men’s and women’s preliminary rounds beginning in 2027 and that a letter of support is due Tuesday. “So, chairman, you are going to be asked to sign a letter of support,” the staff member said.

The request focused on administrative authorization to let the chairman sign the letter; the staff member said organizers were still finalizing the draft and would circulate it to commissioners when available. The official said the last time the county supported a similar bid, Chairman Beatty submitted a letter on behalf of the commission.

When the moderator asked whether a formal vote was required, one commissioner replied, “I don’t believe that would take a formal vote,” and commissioners expressed consensus to proceed without putting the matter to a roll-call vote.

Because the deadline for the letter is imminent, staff asked commissioners to indicate any objections quickly; the county will submit the documentation if no commissioner objects once the draft is circulated. The commission’s action on Tuesday will be administrative authorization for the chairman to sign rather than a recorded policy vote.

Next steps: staff will circulate the draft letter of support to the commission and, barring objections, the chairman will sign and submit the county’s letter by the stated deadline.