PORTLAND (AP) — Ticket packages go on sale Monday for the 2009 NCAA tournament first- and second-round games at the Rose Garden Arena, the Oregon Sports Authority announced.

The University of Oregon is the host school for the games, to be held Thursday, March 19 and Saturday, March 21, 2009. Three-session tickets can be purchased starting Monday through ncaa.com.

“The anticipated arrival of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, along with its substantial economic impact, represents one of the Oregon Sports Authority’s most meaningful accomplishments on behalf of this state,’’ said Drew Mahalic, chief executive officer of the authority.

Portland has hosted NCAA Tournament games in 1959, 1961, 1965 and 1975. The last tournament games held in Oregon were first- and second-round games in Corvallis in 1983.

Oregon lawmakers in 2005 voted to do away with the state lottery’s pro football betting game, Sports Action, to lure such tournament games. Because of its anti-gambling stance, the NCAA had passed over Oregon as a potential site.