The Basketball Tournament (TBT), the 64-team, $1 million winner-take-all event, announced Tuesday that the city of Louisville and Freedom Hall will once again serve as a host site for one of TBT’s regional events in 2024. The Ville, the Louisville alumni team, will be the host team in the eight-team regional event to take place July 19-24.
Legendary point player Peyton Siva and former Cardinals standout and eight-year NBA veteran Montrezl Harrell are among the initial commitments made to The Ville’s 2024 team.
The Ville and Freedom Hall are hosting a TBT regional for the second year in a row. The Ville made their TBT debut by going all the way to the Louisville Regional title in 2023, with Siva, Russ Smith, Kyle Kuric, and several other former Cardinals on their squad.
The Ville’s opening round matchup with War Ready drew 5,463 spectators, which ranks as the fourth-highest attendance for a single game in TBT history.
The CEO and creator of TBT, Jon Mugar, stated, “We are thrilled to be coming back to Louisville this summer.” “There was a boisterous energy at Freedom Hall that brought back memories of the Boston Garden in the 1980s.” In addition, The Ville’s Round 3 match in Louisville received a 12.4 share, a record for us. We’re fully committed to Louisville!
According to David S. Beck, president and CEO of Kentucky Venues, “it was evident in 2023 that there’s a special place for Freedom Hall in the hearts of Louisville basketball fans as they filled the arena to watch The Ville compete in TBT.” “We’re thrilled to see legendary Freedom Hall in all its basketball glory and to have the tournament return this summer.”
The Ville’s first player to commit for 2024 was Siva.
“It was really amazing to play at Freedom Hall last year,” Siva remarked. “It seemed like a real Louisville home game atmosphere.” I’m thrilled to be bringing TBT back to Louisville, and I can’t wait for Cardinals supporters to join us for yet another amazing ride this summer.
Through the team’s X page, @TBT_Louisville, more roster and staff announcements will be made in the upcoming months.
In 2024, Louisville will host one of eight TBT regionals. TBT revealed last week that a 2024 TBT regional will also take place in Lexington, Kentucky, at Rupp Arena, and be hosted by the Kentucky alumni team La Familia.
On July 30, the winners of the Lexington and Louisville regionals will square off in the TBT quarterfinals.
TBT has been viewed in more than 180 countries worldwide and has given out more than $13 million in prizes since its launch in 2014. Four out of the last five summers, alumni teams have won TBT’s championship; between 2019 and 2022, teams from Ohio State, Marquette, Syracuse, and the University of Buffalo have won the $1 million prize. The Elam Ending, an alternative conclusion to games in which teams play to a target score, originated at TBT as well. The Elam Ending is currently utilized in G League games as part of their overtime format after being adopted by the NBA for its 2020–2023 All-Star Game.
