The Sun Belt Conference took a bold move six years ago when choosing Pensacola as the new home for its men’s and women’s basketball tournament.
The Pensacola Bay Center had never hosted such a major basketball event. The arena did not have a basketball floor. Some of the former host cities were places where a conference member existed.
But Pensacola had all the Sun Belt Conference wanted.
“Finding the right home was absolutely critical for us to have the kind of championship experience we wanted. And it’s worked out perfectly in Pensacola,” said Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill, who took over leadership of the league in March 2019 and helped it grow to 14 schools across 10 states.
“Pensacola has been an incredible partner for us. We love the community, we love the people, we love the support. We feel like the Bay Center is a perfect place for our championship. And all of the schools and their fans love coming down to Pensacola. So, it’s really perfect.”
The 2026 Visit Pensacola Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, presented by Air Force Reserve, will be held March 3-9 at the Pensacola Bay Center. The event will begin a new five-year agreement with the Sun Belt Conference and the Pensacola community.
This year’s grand event also brings some history. It will become the longest consecutive year venue for the SBC men’s and women’s tournament in its history. And next year, the 50th anniversary of the men’s tournament which began in Charlotte, N.C. in 1977, will occur in Pensacola.
So, there’s a lot of wow. Just as Pensacola has impressed the SBC and its membership.
“The great thing about Pensacola is that it’s already a place where a lot of our folks vacation,” Gill said. “So, coming to Pensacola for the tournament is an easy thing for them to do. It’s familiar.
“It’s a perfect place to get some sun, some beach, some hospitality, some really good food and some really good basketball, so we’re really excited that we have another five years in front of us, because Pensacola has been such a great partnership for the Sun Belt.”
The tournament provides the ultimate prize for the winning men’s and women’s teams. It’s a ticket to the Big Dance, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournament. The showcase of March Madness.
For that reason, the SBC Tournament in Pensacola has featured its share of drama and high-quality college basketball. There have been five different men’s and women’s teams winning SBC Tournament titles in Pensacola.
Last year, seven of the men’s tournament games were decided by five points or less. Five of the women’s tournament games were decided by six points or less. And the women’s championship game went to overtime with No. 2 seed Arkansas State knocking off top-seed James Madison.
The league heads into its final week Feb. 21-27 with five men’s teams separated by one game. The Troy Trojans, who won the 2025 SBC Tournament against Arkansas State, were tied at the top with Appalachian State – winner of the first SBC championship in Pensacola in 2021 – entering the final portion of the season.
“Our men have been super-competitive,” Gill said. “Being in the top four (of standings) creates an advantage for those schools. So, the regular season really matters because seeding really matters. With it being so bunched, there will be a lot of teams fighting it out to the end and when they get to Pensacola.”
On the women’s side, four teams had already attained 20 or more wins before Feb. 19 with Troy and Georgia Southern leading the way at that point with 12-2 league records.
“We have five women’s programs in the top 100 of the (NCAA) NET rankings, so some really good basketball is being played there,” Gill said. “Our women have had an unbelievable season and it will be really exciting when they get to Pensacola.”
When the tournament began its stay in Pensacola, the inaugural 2021 event operated during the final stages of the coronavirus pandemic. The seating had to be spaced. Teams had to avoid interaction with fans. There were various other challenges. A year earlier in New Orleans, the semifinal and championship tournaments for both men and women were cancelled, along with all sports across the nation when COVID-19 hit.
But in each succeeding year in Pensacola, improvements, additions and promotions have enhanced the week-long event. Last year, the men’s overall tournament attendance of 22,802 was the highest for the Sun Belt Conference in 16 years.
“I feel like each year, with the partnership and things relative to Pensacola have all gotten better.” Gill said. “We’ve had more fans come down. We certainly got off to a little bit of a slow start with the pandemic, but we’re full throttle now and it’s been good for the championship.
“I think when you look at how the attendance, the fan engagement, the amount of Sun Belt people who get excited about coming to the tournament… it has continued to grow and so we’re excited.”
Pensacola is the 16th different host city for the SBC Men’s Tournament, the 15th for the women’s side. The SBC Tournaments have gone through significant evolution.
The league, which now has its headquarters at the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans, once held its tournaments in different cities each year. That changed in 2009 when five-year agreements began.
Under Gill’s direction, the league has ensured that all 14 teams get the opportunity to play in the conference tournament at the same venue. In the past, teams played opening rounds at campus sites.
“That was something we wanted to rectify,” Gill said. “We wanted everyone in one place instead of championship games spread all over the Southeast.”
The stability has helped the event grow. Moving annually required rebuilding operations every year with new signage, new staff coordination and new logistics. A long-term host allows continuity and improvement.
“One of the great things about Pensacola is we knew it was a place we wanted long-term so we could grow,” Gill said.
Six years later, the conference’s gamble has turned into a model partnership, one that blends high-level college basketball with a destination atmosphere and now has at least five more years ahead.
For schedules, tickets and complete tournament details, visit VisitPensacola.com/SunBelt.
