Times Union Center Awarded NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Regional Round in 2018
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. - The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference along with Siena College have been named NCAA Championship co-hosts for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Regionals at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. It will be the second time that Albany serves as a host city of an NCAA Women’s Basketball Regional event.
Earlier this week, the MAAC was awarded the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds in 2017 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
“We are excited to host this event along with Siena College again. Being host to this event shows our commitment to the city from our league,” noted MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor, Esq. “Albany is a premiere site for NCAA competition.”
"Siena is excited to once again partner with the MAAC, Times Union Center and Albany County to bring NCAA women's basketball to Capital Region,” noted Vice President and Director of Athletics at Siena College John D’Argenio “This is a great opportunity for people from other parts of the country to get to know Albany and to find out how passionate the community is about college basketball."
In March, 2015, the MAAC will serve as co-host of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional at the Times Union Center in Albany, along with league member Siena. The MAAC has also hosted the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships preliminary and regional rounds in Albany, with Siena serving as the co-host on two occasions. In 2002 the MAAC along with Siena served as co-host to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in Albany. Three times since 2006 the MAAC has served as co-host of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Regionals, twice at Trenton, N.J. with Rider as the co-host, and once in Bridgeport, Conn., teaming with Fairfield.
SMG Regional General Manager of the Times Union Center Bob Belber said, “On behalf of SMG and the Times Union Center, we are honored to receive the award today from the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee to host the 2018 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball East Regional Championship. Our market has a long history of hosting NCAA Championship events and we look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with the NCAA.”
“What an exciting day to be selected to host the NCAA Division I Women's Regional for the second time. This is a testament to what a terrific facility the Times Union Center is and what a strong and central location Albany County is to host world class competitions,” noted Albany Country Executive Dan McCoy “Fan support is a huge attraction, and there is no better fan than a Capital Region basketball fan!”
The MAAC has a long history of serving as co-host of a wide variety of NCAA Championships, beginning with the Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Regionals on six occasions. Most recently, the MAAC along with Iona College and Manhattan College served as hosts for the 2014 NCAA Division I Northeast Cross Country Regional at Van Cortlandt Park in Bronx, N.Y.
In 2003 the MAAC served as co-host to the NCAA Division I Frozen Four with the nation’s top four men’s ice hockey teams, with Canisius and Niagara being co-hosts. In 2011, the MAAC teamed up with Rider University to host a sold-out NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championship at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The MAAC and Rider also teamed to co-host the 2012 NCAA Divisions I, II and III Rowing Championships at Lake Mercer in West Windsor. N.J.
The 2014-15 MAAC basketball season culminates with the MAAC Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
The MAAC will host the 2015 NCAA Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen Albany Regional at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Tickets can be purchased here.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The MAAC, headquartered in Edison, N.J., consists of 11 member institutions for 2014: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter's University and Siena College. For more on the conference please visit, www.maacsports.com. Be sure to follow the MAAC on Facebook and Twitter: @MAACSports.