If UNI or Iowa qualifies for the NCAA men's basketball tournament in 2016, one or both teams could end up playing close to home.

On Monday (November 17, 2014), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines will serve as a host venue for first- and second-round tournament games next season. Iowa State University will be the host school.

As official tournament host, the Cyclones would not be allowed to play in Des Moines if they qualify. But UNI and Iowa could, along with Drake.

First- and second-round games at Wells Fargo Arena will be played on March 17th and 19th, 2016. The preliminary rounds will follow the tournament's "First Four" games that will continue to be played in Dayton, Ohio.

When the 2016 tournament tips off in Des Moines, it will mark the first time in 44 years that college basketball's premiere event will be played in the state of Iowa. In 1972, Iowa State's Hilton Coliseum hosted Midwest Regional games in what was then a 25-team tournament.

The NCAA tournament had only eight teams when the event began in 1939. The field has expanded a number of times throughout its history, and currently features 68 teams playing in a single-elimination format.

Des Moines was selected as a regional site on the city's third attempt to host what's considered to be the Holy Grail of college sports tournaments. After two previous tries failed, local officials increased their effort to win the bid this year.

Wells Fargo Arena can seat more than 16,000 for basketball, which far exceeds the NCAA minimum capacity requirement of 10,000.

In previous years, the venue has hosted several NCAA women's tournament games, including the 2012 regional semfinals and championships.

The NCAA Wrestling Championships were held there in 2013. Tickets were sold out less than 15 minutes after they went on sale.

Wells Fargo Arena has been home to the Iowa High School wrestling championships and boys and girls state basketball tournaments since 2006.

More From K92.3