Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship Returns to Pittsburgh for 50th Anniversary
WASHINGTON— The Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball will return to its roots for the 2026 Championship, with the league holding its signature event in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena.
The decision to hold the championship in Pittsburgh in 2026 was finalized by the league’s athletic directors during last week’s Annual Spring Meetings. The directors also approved a return to a five-day format (Wednesday-Sunday) for the Men’s Basketball Championship, beginning with the 2025 Championship. This eliminates the practice/press conference day between the quarterfinals and semifinals.
“We are excited to return to Pittsburgh in 2026 to celebrate the league’s history in a city that was integral to the beginning of the Atlantic 10,” stated Bernadette V. McGlade. “Pittsburgh is an amazing city with a very rich sports history. It has previously been a tremendous host for the A-10 Championship, both in 2017, and in the first six years of the conference.”
The A-10 will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2025-26, culminating with the championship in the Steel City where five of the first six (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982) A-10 Championships were held. The championship had a five-year tenure in Pittsburgh from 1978 through 1982 at the Civic Arena, affectionately known as The Igloo. The Atlantic 10 returned to the three-rivers region in 2017, with Rhode Island capturing the championship at PPG Paints Arena. Additionally, the first league office was established in Pittsburgh in 1978.
Located near the geographic center of the conference, Pittsburgh is less than a seven-hour drive from 79 percent for the league’s footprint. PPG Paints Arena seats 19,000 for basketball and has hosted multiple NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament preliminary rounds and the 2013 NCAA Frozen Four. The arena is home to the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins.
"We are thrilled to host the Atlantic 10 Basketball Championship and celebrate its 50th anniversary at PPG Paints Arena. This milestone event highlights our arena's dedication to supporting major sporting events and delivering top-notch experiences in the region. The excitement surrounding this championship is palpable, and we are committed to making it an unforgettable experience for players, coaches, and fans alike," said General Manager of PPG Paints Arena Gary Desjardins.
Pittsburgh hosted meetings in 1976 where the framework of the Eastern 8 Basketball League, the forerunner to today’s Atlantic 10 Conference, was developed. Duquesne, the league’s Pittsburgh school, won the inaugural championship. That first championship was played in Philadelphia before Pittsburgh became a five-year host the following season. The Dukes also recently won the 2024 championship advancing to the NCAA round of 32.
“We’re excited to welcome the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship back to Pittsburgh, especially for its milestone anniversary in 2026,” SportsPITTSBURGH Executive Director Jennifer Hawkins said. “Of course, Pittsburghers will flock to cheer on the Dukes with hopes of another championship title, but we also invite other fans, friends and families to join us to support their teams and experience the comradery that we pride ourselves on along with all our city has to offer.”
A vibrant city that ranks as the 26th largest metropolitan area in the United States and the seventh largest in the Mid-Atlantic region, the greater Pittsburgh area boasts a population of 2.45 million people and is home to eight Fortune 500 companies, with a GDP of $153.3 billion. Pittsburgh is also the 28th largest media market in the country.
About the Atlantic 10 Conference
The Atlantic 10 Conference was founded in 1975 and consists of 15 diverse members across nine states and Washington, D.C. The mission of the Atlantic 10 is to provide an enhanced student-athlete experience through 22 nationally competitive championship sports. The basketball-centric conference is committed to integrity, educational excellence and providing quality equitable championship experiences for its student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The membership consists of Davidson College, the University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, George Mason University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, Loyola University Chicago, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University and Virginia Commonwealth University. For more information, visit www.atlantic10.com.