St. Petersburg will host NCAA Division I men’s basketball for the first time in 26 years. Central Michigan University, the University of South Alabama, and Coppin State University will compete at the McArthur Center on the Eckerd College campus. The Showdown in St. Pete runs from Thursday, Nov. 13, through Saturday, Nov. 15.
The last time the city hosted Division I college basketball was March 1999. A championship game brought more than 41,000 people to Tropicana Field. Doors will open at 10 a.m. each day, with tip-off scheduled for 11 a.m.
Nima Omidvar organized the tournament. He’s vice president of basketball and events at Athlete Advantage. Omidvar looked into hosting games in Tampa Bay since 2020 before his attention shifted to creating a basketball tournament ecosystem in Aruba.
Omidvar visited St. Petersburg in late 2024 and toured the McArthur Center. While seeing a storm-damaged Trop “tugged at my heartstrings,” Omidvar was “blown away” during the tour, according to St. Pete Catalyst.
“This year is all about us proving to the St. Pete community, as well as NCAA Division I men’s basketball, that we can deliver on what will be a great exposure opportunity and viewing opportunity for everyone involved,” said Omidvar, according to St. Pete Catalyst.
The McArthur Center underwent extensive renovations recently. Tom Ryan directs athletics at Eckerd. In a prepared statement, he said the school is proud to host the event.
“[The tournament] shines a spotlight on the energy and hospitality that make St. Petersburg such a special place for college athletics,” Ryan said.
Omidvar and his partners have donated dozens of tickets to local organizations. He called Eckerd a “gracious host” for eliminating obstacles to help establish a viable event that prioritizes accessibility, particularly among underprivileged youth.
Anddrikk Frazier is CEO of Tampa-based Best Source Consulting. He played college basketball at the University of South Florida and was a color commentator for ESPN. Frazier helped convince Omidvar to consider hosting games in St. Petersburg.
Frazier will provide color commentary for the tournament livestream on The Locker Room channel on YouTube. The event will stream internationally. Organizers are offering free media spots to local businesses.
The Showdown in St. Pete will generate an estimated $200,000 to $300,000 in economic impact. That’s what organizers predict. Omidvar plans to double the event’s size to six teams in 2026.
Organizers chose the 11 a.m. start times to ensure the three universities could “shine on a platform when no other basketball team in the country is playing.” Omidvar said the atypical start times were the result of “the mad scientist in us, tinkering with how we can get the nation’s attention.”
He plans to grow the event, attract more prominent teams, and “potentially graduate to bigger buildings.” The goal? An event that could reside inside Tropicana Field in a couple of years.
Omidvar and his team provided honorary tournament balls to recognize community leaders. Recipients include City Council Chair Copley Gerdes on Thursday, Gwendolyn Reese on Friday, and Police Chief Anthony Hollow on Saturday.
The tournament schedule features South Alabama versus Central Michigan on Nov. 13, Central Michigan versus Coppin State on Nov. 14, and Coppin State versus South Alabama on Nov. 15. Tickets can be purchased at gethappyticketing.com/orgs/348.