ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (Mar. 7, 2023) – The MAAC Basketball Championships will stay a community-driven event in Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall through 2026 with the support of schools,
the conference announced Monday.
During the host selection process, student-athletes and coaches provided positive feedback from their previous experiences at the historic arena, which has hosted the championships since 2020.
“We’re very proud to be in Atlantic City. It’s such a great venue for us here in Boardwalk Hall,” MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor said. “I hear all the time from the teams how special it is for them to have this big-time championship experience in great facilities.”
The location brings a number of positives for the tournament, with the arena meeting all the bid specifications, the cooperation of several first-class hotels in hosting teams and fans, and the community providing a championship-level atmosphere.
“Throughout the process we talked about the continued support here in Atlantic City,” said Jordan Confessore, MAAC Senior Associate Commissioner for Men’s Basketball. “Obviously, that was a big factor going into this.”
Surveyed student-athletes and coaches also were in favor of continuing the championship experience they receive in Atlantic City.
“We’ve got the support from the student-athletes. The presidents, the administrators, they worked with us through this process. They’ve committed to Atlantic City,” Boardwalk Hall General Manager Jim McDonald said.
The MAAC has achieved a number of milestones in Boardwalk Hall. The 2021 MAAC Basketball Championships was the first event at the arena following the COVID-19 pandemic. 2023 will be the second completed tournament with fan attendance.
The site serves as a destination for fans. The 2023 MAAC Basketball Championships are expected to draw an attendance of more than 20,000 over the course of the week to Boardwalk Hall.
“We’re very excited that the MAAC has decided to bring back the tournament. It believes in our destination,” said Larry Sieg, President and CEO of Meet AC. “We’re within driving distance of one-third of the population of the United States, so that positions us really well to host these events.”