The Ivy League is bringing its men’s and women’s conference basketball tournaments to Allentown.
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On Tuesday, the league announced that it has agreed to a three-year deal with the PPL Center to make the arena home to Ivy Madness starting in 2028. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms arena was selected due to its “centralized location within the league’s geographic footprint,” according to a release. The conference previously employed a rotation for the tournament around all eight of its teams’ arenas.
“We are incredibly excited to bring Ivy Madness to PPL Center and the surrounding communities beginning in 2028,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said in a release. “Ivy Madness has grown into an incredible celebration of our student-athletes, institutions and the competitive excellence of Ivy League basketball.
“The PPL Center provides a neutral site in a first-class venue, a vibrant downtown setting and a location that is accessible to so many of our alumni and fans. We believe this partnership creates an exciting opportunity to continue elevating the championship experience for our student-athletes and Ivy League basketball overall.”
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Penn will host Ivy Madness this season as a part of the Palestra’s 100th anniversary celebration. Dartmouth was originally scheduled to host the tournament but relinquished the opportunity because of the celebration. The Big Green are the only team in the Ivy League to never host the tournament after the rotating schedule began after 2018.
In its release, the conference also noted that the PPL Center was selected due to its “premier arena setting.” The Ivy arenas, which previously held the tournaments, range dramatically in size. Harvard’s Lavietes Pavilion holds 1,636 people while the Palestra’s maximum capacity is 8,722. The PPL Center, which can hold up to 8,500 fans for Phantoms games, will provide Ivy Madness with consistent seating capacity.
“PPL Center is thrilled to welcome Ivy Madness to the Lehigh Valley,” PPL Center co-owners Rob and Jim Brooks said. “As a hub for our community, we take pride in hosting a diverse range of events that bring people together. Ivy Madness is an exciting new addition to our calendar, offering a great experience for local fans while also welcoming visitors from across the region.”