PAC Selected to Host Five NCAA Championships Partnering with SportsPITTSBURGH to host between 2026-28 10/2/2024 7:15:00 PM TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The NCAA announced Wednesday over 240 host sites for preliminary and final rounds of predetermined championships across all divisions, primarily for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons, and the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) will team with SportsPITTSBURGH to serve as hosts for five different championships during that cycle. Overall, the NCAA awarded Pittsburgh eight NCAA preliminary and championship events spanning 2026 through 2028, including Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds and the National Collegiate Bowling Championship. This adds more championships hosting experience for the PAC, who hosted a pair of national championship events recently. In May, 2021, the PAC and conference member Bethany College teamed to host the Division III Men's Golf Championship at Oglebay Golf Resort in Wheeling, W.Va. Then in March, 2022, SportsPITTSBURGH and the PAC hosted the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship at Duquesne University’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. In addition and most recently, the PAC assisted SportsPITTSBURGH and Saint Vincent College in hosting the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship, also at Duquesne's UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. "We are very proud to have the PAC be a part of this comprehensive, multi-divisional and regional effort!," said PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko, who is in his 19th year leading the league. "Pittsburgh is an incredible city for hosting NCAA championships, and we are very excited to join SportsPITTSBURGH in hosting five NCAA Division III national championship events from 2026-28!" “All eyes continue to be on Pittsburgh as a top destination for sporting events,” said Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “The team pulled together an extensive bid portfolio last year, and what makes our proposals stand out is the strong focus and support of our local community. We’re fortunate to have strong partnerships across the Pittsburgh Bid Committee, and we’re excited to continue our collaboration to bring these events to life. We can’t wait to welcome hundreds of thousands of athletes, families and fans from across the country to the City of Champions.” The first two championship events will be in the 2026-27 year and both will return to Duquesne's UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse, beginning with the Division III Women's Volleyball Championship in the Fall of 2026. Then in March of 2027, the Division III Men's Basketball Final Four will be held at Duquesne for the first of a two-year residency. The PAC and SportsPITTSBURGH will host a trio of national championships in Pittsburgh in the 2027-28 year, with one in each season. To close out the fall, the Division III Men's and Women's Soccer National Championships will be played at Highmark Stadium in downtown Pittsburgh. Following that, two championships will be held again at Duquesne, with the second year of the DIII Men's Basketball Final Four to be played in March before the Division III Men's Volleyball National Championship takes the court at Cooper Fieldhouse in April, 2028. “We’re always excited for NCAA events to come to our city,” SportsPITTSBURGH Director, Sports Event Development Brady Inners said. “Sure, we have a lot of work ahead of us, but we’re fortunate to have such strong partnerships with the NCAA, host institutions, venues and community – and we love to see the comradery Pittsburghers pride ourselves on, amplified by these competitions.” The PAC and SportsPITTSBURGH will welcome teams and fans to first-class facilities for the national championships. Highmark Stadium's FIFA-certified synthetic turf field is the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC professional team of the United Soccer League (USL). It boasts a seating capacity of 5,000 people with additional standing room venue space for soccer games. Highmark Stadium is located at Station Square on Pittsburgh’s South Shore, overlooking the city’s downtown skyline from across the Monongahela River. Its breathtaking views provide a stunning backdrop to any athletic event, concert, festival or private function The UPMC Cooper FieldHouse at Duquesne, named after Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and Duquesne alumnus Chuck Cooper, features six suites, 55 club level seats as well as four unique fan corners with excellent sightlines to the playing floor. Wider, more accessible concourses as well as enhanced concession areas are among the many fan amenities in the 3,500-seat facility. In addition to already hosting the two previous national championships, Duquesne's Cooper Fieldhouse will be home to eight NCAA Tournament events between 2025-28. "Duquesne University holds a tradition of excellence and commitment to delivering the best championship experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans through hosting NCAA Championships," Duquesne Vice President of Athletics Dave Harper said. "Our team and partners possess an unwavering sense of appreciation for the ability to host an NCAA Championship, whether it be locally at various venues in the region or our venue on campus with the state-of-the-art UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. We look forward to more exciting events in the years ahead." The NCAA sports committees made the selections of host sites based on criteria that included the ability to create an outstanding experience for student-athletes, along with adherence to NCAA sport-specific bid specifications. Specifications can include providing optimal facilities; ease of travel to the location; ample lodging; and adherence to NCAA principles, which include providing an atmosphere that is safe and respects the dignity of all attendees. Complete List of NCAA Division III National Championships coming to Pittsburgh: 2026-2027 2026 Division III Women's Volleyball Championship / Venue: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse 2027 Division III Men's Basketball Championship / Venue: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse 2027-2028 2028 Division III Men's and Women's Soccer Championships / Venue: Highmark Stadium 2028 Division III Men's Basketball Championship / Venue: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse 2028 Division III Men's Volleyball Championship / Venue: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse About SportsPITTSBURGH As the sports development division of VisitPITTSBURGH, SportsPITTSBURGH’s primary goal is to attract and host a wide variety of sporting events while providing planners and local stakeholders with the expertise and professionalism required to host a world-class event in the Pittsburgh region. Contributions to story from: Duquesne University, SportsPITTSBURGH, Highmark Stadium