Reversed Brand Presents the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete Featuring Five NCAA Division I Programs and Four National Broadcast Games
George Mason, Bradley, Kansas City, Florida A&M and Coppin State will compete November 11–14 at Eckerd College
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Reversed Brand Presents the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete Featuring Five NCAA Division I Programs and Four National Broadcast Games
George Mason, Bradley, Kansas City, Florida A&M and Coppin State will compete November 11–14 at Eckerd College
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Worldwide Hoops is proud to announce the return of the Showdown in St. Pete, featuring four NCAA Division I men’s basketball games at the McArthur Center on the campus of Eckerd College from November 11–14, 2026.
Reversed Brand will serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Showdown in St. Pete.
The expanded 2026 field includes George Mason University, Bradley University, the University of Missouri–Kansas City, Florida A&M University and Coppin State University.
The basketball action begins at noon on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, when Kansas City faces Florida A&M. In recognition of the holiday, Worldwide Hoops will provide complimentary admission to the first 500 veterans who register. The Veterans Day ticket opportunity is presented by the YMCA of Tampa Bay & St. Petersburg.
“Showdown in St. Pete was created to deliver more than a meaningful weekend of college basketball,” said Anddrikk Frazier, a founding member of the event. “We want this event to create a lasting impact for the people who contribute so much to the vibrancy of our community—especially our young people and veterans. By combining high-level competition with educational opportunities, community engagement and a meaningful Veterans Day celebration, we can create an experience that St. Petersburg will be proud to call its own.”
The action continues Thursday, November 12, with a doubleheader. University of Missouri–Kansas City will face George Mason at 3 p.m., followed by Bradley against Coppin State at 6
p.m. The event concludes Saturday, November 14, when Bradley meets George Mason at 1:00
p.m.
2026 Showdown in St. Pete Schedule
Date | Time | Matchup |
Wednesday, November 11 | Noon | Kansas City vs. Florida A&M |
Thursday, November 12 | 3 p.m. | Kansas City vs. George Mason |
Thursday, November 12 | 6 p.m. | Bradley vs. Coppin State |
Saturday, November 14 | 1 p.m. | Bradley vs. George Mason |
The Showdown Experience Extends Beyond the Court
The Showdown experience begins Tuesday, November 10, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a college and career fair at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel. The fair will introduce young people from across St. Petersburg to educational opportunities, career pathways and representatives from participating universities and local institutions.
Tiki Docks St. Pete, the Official Restaurant of the Showdown in St. Pete, will host three events during Showdown week. FAMU Takes Over St. Pete begins Tuesday, November 10, at 7 p.m. Fans of Florida A&M, Florida State and the New York Knicks can meet head coach Charlie Ward and the 2026-2027 FAMU team. Proceeds from the event will support the Florida A&M men's basketball program.
On Wednesday, November 11, the celebration continues with Show Up Before the Showdown at Ferg’s Sports Bar from 5PM-8PM. Participating teams, coaches, alumni and fans will be invited to come together at one of St. Petersburg’s most recognizable sports destinations. The gathering will feature complimentary ticket giveaways, free Showdown merchandise, prizes and additional activities.
On Thursday, November 12, fans are invited to Tiki Docks beginning at noon to get ready for the day's matchups at Eckerd College and return after the games for postgame specials.
On Friday, November 13, Ford's Garage will host the Official Fan Happy Hour beginning at 4 p.m., with ticket and prize giveaways for fans.
On Saturday, November 14, fans can start the day with Brunch before Basketball at Tiki Docks beginning at 11 a.m.
These off-court experiences are designed to connect participating universities with the local community, welcome visiting fans and encourage attendees to experience the restaurants, hospitality and energy that make St. Petersburg and Pinellas County premier event destinations.
“Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is proud to welcome the Showdown in St. Pete back for its second year,” said Caleb Peterson, Director of the Sports Commission for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “We look forward to helping Worldwide Hoops grow this event, attract additional teams and visiting fans, and expand its economic impact throughout the community. Events like the Showdown strengthen our destination’s reputation as a premier location for high-level sports while creating meaningful benefits for our residents, local businesses and tourism partners.”
The midweek games will receive a standalone national broadcast window, providing dedicated exposure for the participating universities while showcasing St. Petersburg and Pinellas County to audiences across the country and around the world.
The inaugural Showdown in St. Pete generated more than 122,000 viewers and 16,746 total hours watched across three games in 2025. Building upon that success, the expanded 2026 event will welcome additional programs, visiting fans, community organizations and corporate partners while delivering a larger national platform for the participating universities and the region.
“We are excited to welcome five outstanding universities, their alumni and their supporters to the Showdown in St. Pete! This event continues to grow in its appeal to colleges because of how spectacular the event’s backdrop is, and we hope that the residents in this community enjoy all the programming this event has to offer,” said Nima Omidvar, President of Worldwide Hoops. “We are building an event that honors our veterans, expands educational opportunities for local students and showcases everything that makes St. Petersburg and Pinellas County special.”
Ticket Information
Florida residents can purchase $5 general admission tickets for any of the four Showdown games through October 11. Tickets will be $20 after the 11th.
VIP tickets are also available and include a hosted experience with food and beverage service and a fan gift. To request VIP tickets, email showdowninstpete@gmail.com.
Additional information regarding veteran registration, college and career fair participation, broadcast schedules, sponsorship opportunities and community programming will be announced in the coming months.
How to Watch
All four games will be available to watch free of charge across multiple digital platforms. Broadcast schedules and direct game links will be announced closer to the event.
- X: @ShowdownStPete
- Twitch: Worldwide Hoops
- Kick: Worldwide Hoops
- YouTube: Worldwide Hoops TV
- Instagram: @ShowdownInStPete
- More streaming partners to be announced soon
Fans are encouraged to follow the Showdown in St. Pete and Worldwide Hoops for broadcast updates, direct streaming links, highlights and behind-the-scenes coverage.
About the Showdown in St. Pete
The Showdown in St. Pete is an annual NCAA Division I men’s basketball event held at the McArthur Center at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. The event combines elite competition, national exposure, community engagement and destination experiences for participating programs, fans and partners.
About Worldwide Hoops
Worldwide Hoops is a comprehensive basketball organization specializing in event production, broadcasting, athlete representation, scheduling consultation, partnerships and revenue-generation solutions. Through innovative events and strategic relationships, Worldwide Hoops creates meaningful opportunities for universities, athletes, communities and corporate partners.
In 2026, Worldwide Hoops will host events in St. Petersburg, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Kansas City, Missouri. The company will also introduce At-Large Island, an international college basketball experience in Aruba, beginning in 2027.
Follow the Showdown in St. Pete
- Website: www.showdowninstpete.com
- Instagram: @ShowdownInStPete
- X: @ShowdownStPete
- Facebook: /ShowdowninStPete
- LinkedIn: Showdown in St. Pete
Media Contact
Nima Omidvar
President, Worldwide Hoops, LLC ShowdownInStPete@gmail.com 301-717-7116