SportsPITTSBURGH is supporting two major college basketball events in Pittsburgh this month: The 50th anniversary edition of the Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament and the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.
In addition to helping to secure these events, SportsPITTSBURGH is promoting both basketball championships with a first-of-its-kind airport installation and bolstering the events’ community engagement efforts.
“Our team has been working diligently to prepare for this ‘Month of Basketball’ and to see it come to life so vividly is a huge testament to their hard work,” says Jim Britt, Vice President of Sports Events at SportsPITTSBURGH. “Bringing the A-10’s 50th anniversary and the NCAA Division II Basketball Championships to Pittsburgh back-to-back is a massive win. These events do more than just fill seats – they prove that Pittsburgh is a premier destination for athletes and fans alike.”
Airport Activation Greets Players and Fans
Starting today, everyone traveling through Pittsburgh International Airport in March will be greeted by a 300-square-foot basketball court installation. While not playable, the court, hoops and accompanying backdrops offer a photo opportunity for teams, fans, and other visitors, while increasing awareness about both basketball events.
This installation is housed in the baggage claim area of the newly opened terminal, a prime location to be seen by arriving travelers. The center court logo and courtside signage will be swapped following the A-10 tournament to promote the NCAA Division II Championships.
SportsPITTSBURGH and its community partners unveiled this activation this morning at a media briefing. High-res imagery of the event can be downloaded here. (Photos will be uploaded to this link as they become available. Standby!)
Community Impact
These basketball events are doing more than just filling seats – they are taking root in the community. In an effort to give young, local fans the opportunity to attend these elite basketball events, SportsPITTSBURGH is donating a total of 500 tickets to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania and Tickets for Kids.
Community engagement is also a cornerstone of the NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Basketball Championships. During their practice days, all 16 qualifying teams will spend time off the court in the community to engage with local youth by reading stories, playing games, and running basketball drills at 12 local grade schools across the region, The Boys & Girls Clubs, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and more.
Additionally, Make-A-Wish and Team Impact kids will be recognized during the games on Wednesday, March 25.
Event Details: Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship
Hosted by and held at PPG Paints Arena, this championship will take place from March 11-15. It features 13 games, with all 14 members of the conference participating. The winner will receive an automatic bid for March Madness.
This is the 50th anniversary of the tournament, which is returning to Pittsburgh for the first time since 2017. The A-10 has deep roots in this city: Not only did Duquesne University win the conference’s first-ever tournament in 1977, but Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena hosted the event in 1982, the year when the conference was renamed from the Eastern Eight to the Atlantic 10.
“We secure our locations and venues three or four years out from an event,” Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette McGlade said. “Looking down the road and knowing that 2026 was our 50th anniversary, and that the paperwork for the league was actually formed in Pittsburgh, we thought it would be great synergy to take the tournament back to where it all began. Plus, we had been to Pittsburgh previously during my tenure, and it was a great championship.”
Event Details: NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships
Co-hosted by SportsPITTSBURGH and PennWest Clarion University, the 2026 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will take place from March 24-28 at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
This will include the Elite Eight competition on both the men’s and women’s sides, for a total of 13 games. The women’s national championship game will take place in Pittsburgh, while the men’s national championship game will be held alongside the Division I Final Four in Indianapolis.
“Everyone knows about Division I, but every division is exciting,” says Mitchell Bailey, coordinator of men’s basketball championships for the NCAA. “Division II basketball has amazing athletes as well, and they show a lot of pride in their schools. I hope that fans in Pittsburgh will come out and enjoy some Division II basketball. It’s going to be jam-packed with talented student athletes.”
SportsPITTSBURGH is serving as tournament director for these championships, leading the operations, marketing and ticket sales, hospitality, community engagement and other efforts. Both events were awarded in the 2022-2026 bid cycle. NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball is no stranger to the area as their Championship was hosted last year in Pittsburgh.
“You need people in the host city to put together a committee that’s genuinely excited, wants to make your event an excellent event, and will put in the work that it takes to do that. Here’s, that’s obviously SportsPITTSBURGH,” said Lynne Andrew, associate director of women’s basketball for the NCAA.
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