ATLANTIC CITY (Mar. 6, 2023) – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) today announced that Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will remain as the host site for the league’s basketball championships, extending the arena’s hosting rights through 2026.

“I am pleased to announce the selection of Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall as the site for the 2024-26 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “I want to thank all the facilities that bid to host the championships which reflects the continued interest in the event and the value it brings to a host community.”

The three-year extension will afford the conference the right to host its annual basketball championships at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

“We are excited for the opportunity to continue the relationship with the MAAC to host the Men’s and Women’s basketball championships for an additional three years,” said OVG360’s Jim McDonald, General Manager of Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. “Atlantic City and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall will continue to provide a great destination and venue for the student-athletes, administrators, and spectators.”

"We couldn't be more thrilled that the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference chose Atlantic City as the destination for their 2024-26 MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, and it is a testament to the incremental growth our seaside destination has seen in recent years," said Larry Sieg, President & CEO of Visit Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Sports Commission. "Our goal is to continue to grow the number of sporting events that host their competitions and conventions in our destination, and this is a crucial step towards that goal."

“We are excited to extend our relationship with Atlantic City and Boardwalk Hall,” said MAAC Sr. Associate Commissioner/Basketball, Jordan Confessore. “Jim McDonald and his team does a first-class job providing a meaningful experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans. We look forward to elevating our championships over the next three years.”

“As the host institution, Rider University is excited to partner with the MAAC and Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall to host the MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships in Atlantic City,” said Don Harnum, Rider Director of Athletics. “Personally, I would like to thank the committee who oversaw the process as well as Jim McDonald, general manager, for their diligent work and commitment to securing a positive future for this high profile NCAA Division I Basketball Championship.”

“When we began discussing future MAAC Championship sites, we sought feedback from our student-athletes and basketball coaches about their championship experience. Overwhelmingly, the joint men’s & women’s format coupled with including all member institutions was largely favored. Atlantic City has been a great host in those areas, among many others, and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” said Rachelle Paul, Saint Peter’s Director of Athletics.

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall was originally selected to host three MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from 2020 to 2022, unanimously by the MAAC Council of Presidents in May 30, 2018. The 2020 championships were cut short due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, while the 2021 championships presented limited access as a result of the pandemic. Last March, the MAAC agreed to a one-year extension with Boardwalk Hall, paving the way for the 2023 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships this week.

A formal press conference will be held at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall tomorrow, Tuesday, March 7 at 2:00pm. The press conference will air live via ESPN3.

The 2022-23 campaign culminates with the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships from March 7-11 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall for the fourth consecutive year. For all information regarding the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visitMAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter. For tickets to the 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, please visit ticketmaster.com.

 

About the Atlantic City Sports Commission:

The Atlantic City Sports Commission was officially formed on January 13, 2015 as a 501 (c)(3) organization with the support of Visit Atlantic City and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) to attract sporting events, conventions and competitions to Atlantic City.

For more information, visit www.atlanticcitysports.org. Follow us on FacebookTwitterInstagram and LinkedIn.

Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and the Atlantic City Convention Center are operated by OVG360 and owned and funded by the CRDA.

 

About OVG360:

OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client-partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client-partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety and more.


About the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority:
The only agency of its kind nationwide, the CRDA has used Atlantic City casino reinvestments as a catalyst for meaningful, positive improvement in the lives of New Jersey residents since 1984.  Under the 2011 Tourism District Act, the Authority's mission evolved from statewide projects to becoming the state's key economic development agency for Atlantic City.  CRDA's expanded responsibilities now include land use regulation, tourism marketing and clean and safe initiatives. The CRDA also oversees Historic Boardwalk Hall (the leading entertainment venue of its size in the country) and the Atlantic City Convention Center.  In total, CRDA has invested nearly $2 billion in more than 400 projects statewide, of which $1.8 billion has been invested in Atlantic City, spurring business investments and expansions, and creating permanent jobs in the process. For more information about CRDA and our projects, visit www.njcrda.com.  Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/njcrda  and Twitter at www.twitter.com/njcrda.

 

About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 42nd year of competition during the 2022-23 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona University, Manhattan College, Marist College, Mount St. Mary’s University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.

Stay up to date with the MAAC on social media by following @MAACSports on TwitterFacebook and Instagram or visit MAACSports.com for all the latest MAAC news.