MAAC Basketball Tournament 2027: Will Atlantic City or Albany Host the Event?

The 2025 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men’s and women’s basketball tournament was a success this season, with 2026 set to be the final year the event is held at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.

In an article by Mark Singelais from the Albany Times-Union:

“We’re going to do whatever we need to do to keep it here,” Boardwalk Hall General Manager Jim McDonald told the Albany Times-Union.

So, will the tournament return in 2027?

Boardwalk Hall is expected to face competition to retain the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) basketball tournament beyond 2026, as the current contract is set to expire after next season. MVP Arena in Albany is expected to bid for the event, aiming to bring the tournament back to New York's Capital Region.

Albany has a rich history with the MAAC tournament, having hosted it 20 times, most recently from 2015 to 2019. There are a few schools near Albany, like Sienna, Marist, and Iona - most are closer to Albany than Atlantic City, but the conference likes the neutral court feel of Atlantic City.

According to the Albany Times-Union, this year's tournament at Boardwalk Hall drew a total attendance of 17,687 from Tuesday through Saturday—more than double last year’s total of 8,964.

“I thought this year went really well,” MAAC Commissioner Travis Tellitocci told the Times-Union. “We received a lot of positive feedback. Attendance numbers were up from the previous year. I felt like there was a lot more buzz this year.”

Next season’s tournament will feature a new format designed to boost attendance even further. Games will start on Thursday and run through Tuesday, allowing more teams to remain in town over the weekend. Traditionally, the tournament has begun on Tuesday or Wednesday and wrapped up by Saturday, with many teams already eliminated before the weekend.

Boardwalk Hall General Manager Jim McDonald told the Times-Union he is optimistic about the changes, noting the schedule shift could lead to a 20–25% increase in attendance thanks to more weekend games.

A decision on the 2027 tournament location is expected within the next three months, meaning the performance of the 2026 event likely won’t factor into the final call.

When I spoke with Commissioner Tellitocci before this year’s men’s championship game in Atlantic City, he emphasized the appeal of the city as a host. He praised Atlantic City’s status as a tourist destination, its neutral-site setup, and the quality lodging available for teams and league officials. This year, men’s teams stayed at Ocean Casino Resort while the women’s teams were housed at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.