Russ Potts Productions, Inc., Legends Global, and the Pensacola Bay Center announce the inaugural Pensacola Invitational basketball tournament, a four-team championship event taking place November 22-23, 2025, at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The tournament will feature these competitive programs in a championship format: University of Tennessee at Martin and Prairie View A&M University on one side of the bracket, with the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of North Florida on the other side.
“We are excited to be participating in the Pensacola Invitational. It gives us an opportunity to once again play inside the Pensacola Bay Center ahead of the Sun Belt Tournament in March. On top of that, it’s a short trip for our fans to come support the Golden Eagles,” said Southern Mississippi Head Coach, Jay Ladner.
“We couldn’t be more excited to take part in the Pensacola Invitational! The Pensacola Bay Center is a phenomenal facility with a rich history, and we will be competing in a tournament filled with great programs and well-coached staffs,” said UT Martin Head Coach, Jeremy Shulman. “I called the state of Florida my home for 14 years and am looking forward to making memories with our student-athletes and staff!”
Each program brings its own unique strengths and fan following to what promises to be an exciting weekend of basketball. Southern Miss enters as the Sun Belt representative, bringing a strong basketball tradition and familiar face to the Pensacola Bay Center. UT Martin represents the Ohio Valley Conference, while UNF comes from the Atlantic Sun Conference. Prairie View A&M adds Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) representation to round out a diverse and competitive field.
“We’re excited to compete in the 2025 Pensacola Invitational,” said UNF Head Coach, Bobby Kennen. “The opportunity to compete against a field of three high-level programs in the non-conference portion will present unique tests and provide a gauge of where we stand heading into our ASUN Conference schedule. This is a great event that will provide our student-athletes with a first-class experience in a destination setting and allow our program to continue to grow both on and off the court.”
“The Prairie View Men’s Basketball program is extremely excited to participate in the Pensacola Invitational tournament,” said Prairie View A&M Head Coach, Byron Smith. “It will be an extremely competitive event, and we are looking to gain valuable experience and chemistry as we are committed to having a very strong year for the 25-26 season.””We are thrilled to launch the Pensacola Invitational and bring elite college basketball to the Pensacola Bay Center,” said RPPI President, Zach Franz.
“This tournament represents our commitment to creating premier sporting events that showcase both emerging and established programs while providing an exceptional experience for student-athletes and fans alike. This year’s Invitational marks the first of an annual event that we plan to bring to Pensacola for years to come.”
The event marks an exciting collaboration between three key partners committed to bringing exceptional basketball entertainment to the Gulf Coast region. The Pensacola Bay Center, managed by Legends Global, provides a state-of-the-art venue perfectly suited for high level collegiate competition. As the Sun Belt Conference Championship’s official venue, it is fully equipped with a competition ready court, professional lighting and sound, locker rooms, media rooms, and practice court access.
“We are excited to host another collegiate-level basketball tournament at the Pensacola Bay Center and bring high-energy competition to Escambia County and the Pensacola area,” said Pensacola Bay Center’s General Manager, Michael Capps. “As we collaborate with local and national partners, our goal is to develop this tournament into an annual event that brings top-tier institutions to our community to compete on the court and create a lasting cultural and economic impact right here at home in Pensacola, FL.”
Official fan travel packages will be available through Jampack, the exclusive fan experience partner of the Pensacola Invitational. Supporters can choose individual game tickets or upgrade to premium fan experiences. Learn more at Pensacola Invitational | Ticket and Hotel Packages.
Exclusive presale will be available starting Wednesday, October 1st at 10am CT. Tickets will go on-sale to the public on Friday, October 3rd at 10am CT. For more information about the Pensacola Invitational, click here, or follow @PensacolaInvitational on Instagram.
The Pensacola Invitational is made possible through the strategic partnership of RPPI, Legends Global, and the Pensacola Bay Center.
About Russ Potts Productions, Inc.
RPPI, a Virginia based sports and entertainment company, has organized over 900 major college and professional sporting events in nearly 40 years in the industry. In 2025, RPPI is organizing over a dozen high-profile events on the calendar featuring 40+ men’s college basketball programs across the country. RPPI specializes in the organization and promotion of live sports and entertainment content. For more
Information: www.rppi.net
About Legends Global
Legends Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company, overseeing 450+ venues and hosting 20,000 events for 165 million guests each year. As the premier partner for live events, venues, and brands, Legends Global delivers unmatched experiences worldwide.
About Pensacola Bay Center
The Pensacola Bay Center is a versatile, multi-use event facility located in Pensacola, Florida, serving asa central hub for a wide range of entertainment, sports, and community events. Opened in 1985, this indoor arena is operated by Legends Global and is one of the Gulf Coast’s premier venues. The Pensacola Bay Center has taken its place as the number one entertainment and sports venue in the region and the home of the Pensacola Ice Flyers, a professional ice hockey team competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Ice Flyers have won multiple SPHL championships, making them a key part of the Pensacola sports scene.
