Atlantic City To Host 2026 MAAC Basketball Tournaments With New Format and Primetime Finals on ESPN

Basketball tournaments for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference will return to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The games run March 5-10, 2026, with a new schedule and prime TV slots on ESPN channels.

The men's title game shifts to Tuesday night on March 10, airing on ESPN or ESPN2. Women compete for the crown Monday, March 9, with coverage on ESPN+ or ESPNU. This marks a switch from their usual Saturday night finals since 2020.

"Obviously Atlantic City has been a great partner for us over the past seven years," said MAAC Commissioner Travis Tellitocci, according to The Press of Atlantic City. "I think we have done a good job establishing roots here, obviously building some more engagement in the local community."

The 2026 games wrap up a three-year deal signed in 2023. Officials are sizing up 24 venues between Boston and Philadelphia as possible sites for 2027-29. They'll pick one this winter.

New timing aims to pack the stands during weekend games. The revised plan keeps 16 of 20 teams active when Friday starts. Last year drew 17,687 fans across five days of play.

Jim McDonald, who runs Boardwalk Hall, backs keeping the games in town. "It belongs in Atlantic City," McDonald said. "We think we have an opportunity with the format change and the finals nights being in primetime. It's the right-sized tournament for our building."

Current players like the coastal setting. "I definitely like Atlantic City," said Quinnipiac forward Amarri Monroe, picked as men's top player before the season. "I think it's pretty convenient for all the schools in the conference."

Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis, whose Fairfield women won the last two titles, praised the spot. "We love that we are able to root on our men at the same time and be here at the same time with them. We love that it's a destination for friends and families," she said.

Teams will split between two casinos in 2025: men at Ocean Casino Resort, women at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Plans for 2026 will follow a similar setup.