Want to show off your hoops hosting prowess? Here’s a great opportunity. The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is looking for a home for its Small College National Basketball Championships.
The RFP is open to member institutions, qualifying cities, CVBs and sports commissions and expressions of interest are due July 1 with proposals due on August 1.
The RFP is available at this link.
Background: The United States Collegiate Athletic Association was formed in 2001, as a reformation of the National Small College Athletic Association, which dates back to 1966. The association continues the mission of providing opportunities for small colleges across the United States to compete against like institutions for National Championships and student-athlete recognition.
Since 2006, the USCAA has grown from 42 member institutions to over 80 in 2019.Each year, the association hosts fifteen championship events in Golf, Men’s Soccer (DI and DII), Women’s Soccer (DI and DII), Volleyball (DI and DII), Men’s Cross Country, Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Basketball (DI and DII), Women’s Basketball (DI and DII), Basketball, Softball, and Baseball. The USCAA also holds invitationals for Wrestling and Track & Field.
USCAA Basketball Championships was created as an opportunity to combine the four divisions of USCAA Basketball into a week-long event. The goals of the event are to enhance the championship experience for USCAA student-athletes, generate a larger economic footprint in the host city and to generate content that benefits the community, its businesses, local non-profit organizations, and other stakeholders.
Event Details:
4-DAY FORMAT
This compact format allows for all 42 games to be played over the course of 4 days with a 5th day allowing for team packet pick-up, a skills competition and awards ceremony.
- Day 1: Packet pick-up, skills competition, awards ceremony.
- Day 2: Tournament play begins. (12 games, 2 venues)
- Day 3: Tournament play continues (16 games, 2 venues)
- Day 4: Tournament play continues (10 games, 2 venues)
- Day 5: National Championships hosted (4 games, primary venue)
7-DAY FORMAT
This expanded format allows for the Division I and Division II tournaments to run back-to-back with a crossover day allowing for the skills competition, awards ceremony, and one set of championship games.
- Day 1: Division II skills competition and awards ceremony.
- Day 2: Division II tournament play begins
- Day 3: Division II tournament play continues
- Day 4: Division II tournament play continues
- Day 5: Division I skills competition and awards ceremony, Division II Championships
- Day 6: Division I tournament play begins
- Day 7: Division I tournament play continues
- Day 8: Division I Championships
Event Dates
Fall Championship Week is held in either the 1st or 2nd week in March.
- 2025: March 1-8, or March 8-15
- 2026: March 1-7 or March 7-14
Economic Impact
Basketball Championships present a unique opportunity to combine four divisions of basketball into one larger event increasing the economic impact significantly. When combined in this festival format, the host city can anticipate an economic impact of nearly $575,000.
The RFP includes information on the following facilities, as well as needs and expectations of the hosting entity; it also details the support to provided by the USCAA:
- Competition and Practice Venues
- Banquet Facilities
- Hotels
- Security
- Support Staffing
For more information, contact BJ Bertges at 412-480-4789 or j.bertges@theuscaa.com.
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