UR and VCU to Co-Host A-10 Torunament

Today (Jan. 28, 2021) the Atlantic 10 Conference announced that the University of Richmond and VCU will team up to serve as hosts of the 2021 A-10 Men’s Basketball Championship, March 10-14. The two-arena format will provide student-athletes with a conference championship experience, while adhering to COVID-19 protocols and addressing the challenges created by the pandemic.

The Siegel Center will serve as host for two second round games on March 11, as well as two quarterfinal contests on March 12. All other games, including the semifinal and championship rounds, will be held at the Robins Center on Richmond’s campus. The location of each second round and quarterfinal game will be revealed when championship seeding is announced. The tournament is being presented by Air Force Reserve.

“This decision is a great example of exceptional collaboration between the A-10 membership, our media partner NBC Sports, Barclays Center and our A-10 COVID-19 Medical Advisory Committee. Independently, both VCU and Richmond submitted proposals to host, so their willingness to combine efforts and support the league’s best interest to separate the days with four games is truly appreciated,” stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “The fact that we have two premier arenas, within six miles of each other, willing to host is a tremendous advantage for the A-10 in our goal to provide the safest, best experience for our teams, coaches and campus communities. A-10 members Dayton, Duquesne, George Mason and Saint Louis submitted proposals to host and each would have provided an excellent option. I wish to thank them for their time, work and effort and willingness to host the championship.”

The unique opportunity to play the eight games across Thursday and Friday at two A-10 arenas in the same city, allows for operational efficiencies in implementing comprehensive health and safety plans by establishing two highly COVID-precautionary controlled environments. Participating teams will benefit from receiving additional time and space for pre-game stretching, warmup and shooting time because of transitioning from game to game between two arenas. 

NBC Sports, which broadcasts both the second round and quarterfinals to a national audience, will also benefit from the elimination of extended time between games, allowing for comprehensive coverage with the games being aired consecutively.  

This will be the first Division I conference tournament contested in the city of Richmond since 2013, when the Colonial Athletic Association held its championship at the Richmond Coliseum from 1990-2013.

Note: The information in this post was furnished by Chris Kowalczyk, VCU Assistant A.D.