The NCAA’s new Host Bid Portal opens October 1, 2026, and September is your opportunity to prepare.
Sports ETA is excited to share a full calendar of nine (9) NCAA-led training sessions designed to help destinations learn the new portal, understand its functionality and prepare for the upcoming NCAA championship bid process.
If NCAA championships are part of your destination’s event strategy, these are sessions you’ll want on your calendar!
Here’s what you need to know:
The training is divided into three sections, with three date options offered for each. Destinations are encouraged to attend one session from each section, three sessions total to experience the full training progression before the portal opens October 1.
SEPTEMBER NCAA HOST BID PORTAL TRAINING
SECTION 1: New Bid Portal Orientation | 60 minutes
Get introduced to the new portal, key timelines, the October 1 opening and available support resources.
SECTION 2: Portal Navigation & General Functionality | 75 minutes
Take a deeper dive into navigating the portal and its functionality through a production environment demonstration.
SECTION 3: Bid Submission Preparation & End-to-End Walkthrough | 90 minutes
See the entire process come together through a complete bidder walkthrough before the portal opens.
YOUR GAME PLAN
NEXT, TAKE YOUR NCAA BID STRATEGY TO 4S
Once you've learned the portal, we'll take the conversation one step further at the Sports ETA 4S & Rights Holder Summit.
NCAA Vice President of Championships & Alliances, Anthony Holman will lead a special 90-minute session:
Winning the Bid: Navigating the NCAA Championship Bid Process
With the NCAA championship bid submission period underway, Anthony will highlight key updates and share guidance for developing stronger, more competitive proposals.
Even better, bring your questions. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask about their own bids and hear directly from the NCAA about common challenges and best practices.
September: Learn the portal.
October: Strengthen your bid.
Sports ETA is proud to serve as a resource for our members throughout this process. Keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks for training access information, reminders and additional NCAA bid resources.
Let’s get ready for October 1.
*All sessions will be hosted by the NCAA and are subject to change at the discretion of the NCAA. For the most up-to-date information, visit the NCAA Site Selection & Bid Process webpage. Click here to view the official memorandum released by the NCAA.