March Madness 2026: Nebraska headlines the first round’s top traveling fan bases

In most NCAA tournament opening-round sessions, the ticket map looks pretty predictable: the host market dominates.

SeatGeek looked at ticket purchase data for all 16 men’s first-round sessions and found a clear pattern with the host state leading the way in 14 of them. That makes sense, considering that fans close to the arena usually show up in the biggest numbers, whether or not a local team is playing.

But every tournament has a few fan bases that treat the opening round like a call to action.

This year, no group stands out more than Nebraska fans.

Nebraska’s fan base buying March Madness tickets in droves to potentially witness history

For Session 1 in Oklahoma City at Paycom Center, which features No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 13 Troy and No. 5 Vanderbilt vs. No. 12 McNeese, the state of Nebraska accounts for 69% of ticket purchases. That is the biggest share for any single state in any men’s first-round session.

The number feels even bigger when you add the stakes. Nebraska has never won an NCAA men’s tournament game, which means a huge chunk of this fan base is likely traveling for the chance to potentially see program history in person.

That helps explain why Oklahoma City Session 1 looks less like a standard neutral-site session and more like a full-on Nebraska takeover.

Across the rest of the first round, the ticket map mostly behaves the way you’d expect. In 14 of 16 sessions, the state where the games are being played ranks No. 1 in ticket share. Oklahoma City Session 1 is one of only two exceptions.

The other? San Diego Session 1, where Arizona fans are also traveling in a major way, with a session-leading 38% share.

The top traveling fanbases for the first round of March Madness 2026

Nebraska is the headliner, but it’s not the only fan base making its presence felt away from home.

Nebraska: Oklahoma City Session 1

No fan base is making a louder ticket statement than No. 4 Nebraska.

In Oklahoma City Session 1, buyers from Nebraska account for 69% of all ticket purchases. That’s not just the highest share for any non-host state. It’s the highest share for any state in any first-round session, period.

Arizona: San Diego Session 1

No. 1 Arizona is also warping the ticket map in a major way.

In San Diego Session 1 at Viejas Arena (No. 1 Arizona vs. No. 16 LIU and No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 9 Utah State) Arizona leads with 38% of ticket purchases, ahead of California at 28%.

That makes it one of only two first-round sessions where the host state doesn’t rank first. Wildcats fans are clearly treating San Diego like an easy March migration spot, and with a top seed on the floor, they’re traveling in numbers big enough to outdraw the local market entirely.

Purdue: St. Louis Session 2

No. 2 Purdue is bringing serious support in the first round as the Boilermakers try to win their first men’s basketball national championship in program history. 

In St. Louis Session 2 at Enterprise Center (No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 15 Queens and No. 7 Miami vs. No. 10 Missouri) Missouri leads with 50% of ticket purchases, but Indiana is second at 20%.

That’s a strong out-of-state number in a session that also includes Missouri itself, and it suggests Boilermakers fans are traveling well for what they hope is the start of a deep run. Even with the hometown-state pull in full effect, Purdue fans are creating one of the stronger visiting footprints in the bracket.

North Carolina: Greenville Session 2

No. 6 North Carolina is showing up in a big way for the opening round. In Greenville Session 2 at Bon Secours Wellness Arena (No. 6 North Carolina vs. No. 11 VCU and No. 3 Illinois vs. No. 14 Penn), South Carolina leads with 32% of ticket purchases, but North Carolina is right behind at 26%.

And for Tar Heels fans, there’s one more bonus: North Carolina’s 26% share in Greenville Session 2 is comfortably ahead of rival Duke’s 15% share in Greenville Session 1, giving UNC the stronger ticket-buying footprint of the two Tobacco Road powers.

Gonzaga: Portland Session 2

No. 3 Gonzaga is once again drawing a strong crowd in the Pacific Northwest. In Portland Session 2 at Moda Center (No. 6 BYU vs. No. 11 Texas and No. 3 Gonzaga vs. No. 14 Kennesaw State), Oregon leads with 39% of ticket purchases, but Washington is right behind at 25%.

That Washington share stands out in a session where the host state still leads, and it points to Gonzaga fans traveling well for a nearby opening-round site. Portland has long been comfortable territory for the Zags, and this year’s numbers suggest they’ll once again have a strong presence in the building.

The most lopsided ticket shares by state for the first round of March Madness

Here are the largest state shares in SeatGeek’s dataset for the first round of March Madness:

• Nebraska, Oklahoma City Session 1: 69%

• Florida, Tampa Session 2: 62%

• New York, Buffalo Session 2: 60%

• California, San Diego Session 2: 59%

• Florida, Tampa Session 1: 57%

• Missouri, St. Louis Session 2: 50%

• New York, Buffalo Session 1: 47%

• Oregon, Portland Session 1: 47%

• Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Session 1: 47%

That list helps show why Nebraska is such an outlier.

Florida, New York, California, Missouri, Oregon, and Pennsylvania are all host-state leaders playing on home turf, or at least benefiting from being the local market. Nebraska, on the other hand, is posting the biggest number on the board in a different state altogether.

That’s what makes this the most fun March Madness first-round ticket story in the country. While most sessions still look local, Oklahoma City Session 1 looks like a fan base on a mission.

If Nebraska wins, Huskers fans may not just be witnessing history.

They may be creating the atmosphere for it.