The Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship Returns to Pittsburgh
The Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship is set to return to its roots in 2026, with the league holding its signature event in Pittsburgh at PPG Paints Arena. This decision was finalized by the league’s athletic directors during last week’s Annual Spring Meetings.
Pittsburgh Skyline
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 of 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 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 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.
PPG Paints Arena
“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.
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.
Pittsburgh Cityscape
