Basketball fever hits Pensacola as the 2025 Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships begin on Tuesday, March 4. The Pensacola community is hyped up and ready get in on the action!
All fourteen Sun Belt schools will compete March 4-10 in a thrilling, single-elimination tournament at the Pensacola Bay Center, where both the men’s and women’s championships will be held. For one action-packed week, top college athletes will battle for their shot at the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments.
“The Sun Belt Conference’s student-athletes, coaches and fans have established traditions around starting March Madness in Pensacola each year,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Keith Gill. “We look forward to once again showcasing the rising brand of Sun Belt basketball in a community that continues to support and embrace us.”
The Sun Belt teams include: App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.
The last men’s and women’s team standing on March 10 will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division I basketball tournament and a chance to compete for the national championship title.
“Pensacola is thrilled to once again welcome the Sun Belt Conference, its players, teams, families, and fans to our beautiful city,” said Darien Schaefer, president and CEO of Visit Pensacola. “We invite everyone to enjoy not only the incredible basketball action but also our stunning beaches, vibrant downtown, and fantastic local dining. We’re honored to be the home of this championship and can’t wait to see the excitement unfold.”
But the action doesn’t end there! Enjoy a week filled with thrilling, family-friendly events:
- Sun Belt Fan Fest: Join us outside the Bay Center on Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a free family-friendly celebration featuring a DJ, spirit teams, bands, games, and food and drinks. Early arrivals can even snap photos with the Championship Trophy inside the Bay Center Arena.
- 2025 Sun Belt Dribble Drive: On Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m., kids ages 3-12 can participate in this free event at the Bay Center. Children are encouraged to dribble around the venue and receive a free t-shirt, basketball, and two tickets to the Women’s quarterfinal game at 2:30 p.m. Register soon as spots are limited to 650 participants!
The full schedule of Sun Belt Basketball Championship games, entertainment and events can be found at visitpensacola.com/sunbelt.
Special $99 Box Office Promotion: Don’t miss our exclusive offer! Purchase center, lower-level seat tickets to every game for just $99 (including all taxes and fees.) This unbeatable deal is available in person only at the Pensacola Bay Center box office through the first day of the tournament, Tuesday March 4.
Tickets are available online here at Ticketmaster. Group tickets start at $5 per person.
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About Sun Belt Conference
Established in 1976, the Sun Belt Conference now comprises 14 dynamic member institutions spanning 10 contiguous states. With a commitment to excellence, the Sun Belt excels in 20 NCAA-sponsored sports, fostering academic achievement and community engagement across its footprint. Supporting over 6,700 student-athletes, the Sun Belt Conference proudly includes institutions such as App State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, ULM, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.