The NCAA is advising member schools to brace for potential travel issues with March Madness, especially during the first week of the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, in part because of a shortage of charter aircraft.
“Extreme flexibility will be required this championship season,” NCAA officials said in a memo distributed last week to its more than 350 Division I members.
The NCAA provides charter flights and buses for 136 teams — 68 in each tournament — that all need to be moved within a 12-72-hour window after brackets are revealed March 15. Schools are responsible for their own bookings. Schools located 400 or more miles away from the game sites can book a charter flight through an NCAA provider.
The NCAA cited the busy spring-break travel season, possible TSA-related delays due to a partial government shutdown and a significant decrease in available charter flights nationwide as potential logistical hurdles for schools.
The Athletic reported last year that a company commonly used by colleges and professional sports teams had also operated more than half of ICE deportation flights.
Miami-based GlobalX regularly shuttles deportees to Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and elsewhere, sometimes on the same planes that only hours or days earlier carried sports teams.
NCAA tournament travel is made through an Iowa-based company called Sports Travel Management, according to the memo.
“The NCAA partners with large and small charter aircraft providers to create a dedicated fleet that meets the NCAA requirements for safety and operations,” the memo said. “Charter availability may be limited due to Federal Aviation Administration, crew regulations, current staffing constraints (pilots, crew, ground handlers and screeners), weather, supply and demand. These challenges will likely impact team flight preferences, requiring teams to depart earlier or later than preferred.”
The memo warned members of potential issues such as:
- Later than usual confirmation of departure times to and from tournament sites
- Use of a wide range of aircraft with multiple seating configurations and amenities
- Need for earlier submission of final passenger and equipment manifest
- Increased security measures for regular-season travel
- Payload restrictions and weight limitations
- Wi-Fi capabilities not guaranteed
- Need for fuel stops or use of alternative airports
- Adjustment of departure dates and times
The NCAA men’s tournament begins March 17-18 with the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. First- and second-round games are played March 19-22 at eight sites around the country, including Buffalo, N.Y., Tampa, Fla. and St. Louis, Mo.
The highest seeds host the first two rounds of the women’s tournament. The women’s First Four is scheduled for March 18-19, and first-round games are March 20-23.
“The most challenging days for travel will occur Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (March 17, 18 and 19) after selections, as well as Saturday and Sunday returns from competition (March 21 and 22),” the NCAA memo said.