Pittsburgh has appeal to NCAA in hosting events
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Why does the NCAA keep coming back to Pittsburgh host events?
Simple.
“Pittsburgh is a college town,” mayor Bill Peduto said during a video conference call Thursday. “The city itself is home to seven universities, and the greater region is home to dozens. Pittsburgh is a sports town. And the combination between the two, the facilities that we have in order to be able take advantage of that and the hospitality industry of Pittsburgh all have been able to work together in order to build this type of success.”
On Wednesday, the NCAA selected Duquesne to host the 2024 NCAA men’s basketball championship first- and second-round games at PPG Paints Arena. This will be the seventh time since 1997 Duquesne has hosted games, including the previously announced 2022 first and second rounds.
“What separates Pittsburgh and this group, with those tournaments, it’s so essential that you focus on a high-level student-athlete experience,” Duquesne athletic director Dave Harper said. “You’re focused on all the details for what is one of their best championships, obviously, and one that is showcased nationally.
“Our team, the team that we put together, has such a sense of excellence and such a commitment to delivering every detail to a high level that we separate ourselves. I think that’s why the NCAA has great faith in coming here. We know we can have a high level consistently in the city of Pittsburgh.”
That was one of a number of events that will be hosted in the region in the upcoming years. Others are:
Basketball
• 2025 Division II women’s championship elite eight and a ’26 festival with men’s and women’s championships hosted by Clarion at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.
Gymnastics
• 2023 NCAA women’s regionals, hosted by Pitt at Petersen Events Center.
Volleyball
• 2022 Division III women’s championship hosted by Saint Vincent at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse and the ’23 Division II women’s championship hosted by Clarion at UPMC Events Center.
Bowling
• 2023, ’24, ’25 and ’26 NCAA women’s regionals hosted by Duquesne at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes.
Pitt never has hosted a gymnastic regional before.
“To be able to bring an NCAA regional to the city of Pittsburgh really matches our expectations for (gymnastics coach Samantha Snider) and this program,” Pitt athletic director Heather Lyke said. “It’s a program on the rise. We expect to be in the NCAA regionals. This will be an extraordinary opportunity just to showcase high-level, talented gymnasts and bring it to Pitt.”
“Pittsburgh has been a great partner to the NCAA and has successfully hosted a number of high-profile championships in recent years,” John Baldwin, NCAA director, championships and alliances, said in statement.
“Among other items, the success of the 2018 fall Division II national championships festival in the city gives us great confidence that the inaugural Division II basketball festival will provide an unforgettable experience for the participating student-athletes in 2026.”
Added Jared Walker, CEO and president of Visit Pittsburgh: “A lot of work goes into submitting 50-some odd bids and winning 11 really illustrious awards out of those bids.“A lot of work went into this.”