St. Petersburg will soon host NCAA Division I men’s basketball for the first time since 1999 in what could become an annual occurrence, with enough community support.
The inaugural tournament, dubbed the Showdown in St. Pete, is Thursday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 17. Central Michigan University, the University of South Alabama and Coppin State University will face off at the McArthur Center on the Eckerd College campus.
Event organizer Nima Omidvar, a former college basketball coach, pledged that fans can expect three days of competitive action in an intimate setting. He and his partners have prioritized accessibility, donating dozens of tickets to area organizations.
“This year is all about us proving to the St. Pete community, as well as NCAA Division I men’s basketball, that we can deliver on what will be a great exposure opportunity and viewing opportunity for everyone involved,” Omidvar said.
St. Petersburg hasn’t hosted D-1 college basketball since the March 1999 championship game brought over 41,000 people to Tropicana Field. Omidvar, vice president of basketball & events at name, image and likeness (NIL) management firm Athlete Advantage, has explored hosting games in Tampa Bay since 2020.
While his focus turned to creating a basketball tournament ecosystem in Aruba, he visited St. Petersburg in late 2024. While seeing a storm-damaged Trop “tugged at my heartstrings,” Omidvar was “blown away” during a tour of the McArthur Center.
He called Eckerd a “gracious host” for eliminating obstacles to help establish a viable event that prioritizes accessibility, particularly among underprivileged youth. “That’s abnormal, by the way,” Omidvar said. “Let’s just make that clear.”
Tom Ryan, director of athletics at Eckerd, said in a prepared statement that the school is proud to host the Showdown in St. Pete. He believes the tournament “shines a spotlight on the energy and hospitality that make St. Petersburg such a special place for college athletics.”
Anddrikk Frazier, CEO of Tampa-based Best Source Consulting, said teams are eager to play neutral-site games in Florida during the winter. He played college basketball at the University of South Florida, was a color commentator for ESPN and helped convince Omidvar to consider hosting games in St. Petersburg.
Frazier named several NBA and WNBA players who grew up in or around St. Petersburg. He said there is “definitely an appetite” to attend games in the city.
The tournament will livestream internationally via The Locker Room channel on YouTube. Frazier, who will provide color commentary, said the organizers would offer free media spots to local businesses.
“So, you’re getting free marketing opportunities to show the world that you’re back open for business,” he added. “Yeah, the hurricanes were something, but we’re resilient, we worked through it and this is what you can experience when you come visit.”
Omidvar said the Showdown in St. Pete would generate an estimated $200,000 to $300,000 economic impact. He also plans to double the event’s size, to six teams, in 2026.
Visit St. Pete-Clearwater is among the tournament’s supporters, as sports tourism is big business. Caleb Peterson, director of the agency’s Sports Commission, called an “event of this caliber” a “win-win” for the area.
“Fueling the dreams of young athletes through the excitement of the game is the ultimate reward, all while generating significant economic impact and solidifying our destination as one-of-a-kind for sports and beyond,” Peterson said.
Doors will open at 10 a.m., and the games will tip off at 11 a.m. Omidvar said the atypical start times were the result of “the mad scientist in us, tinkering with how we can get the nation’s attention.”
Organizers wanted to ensure the three universities could “shine on a platform when no other basketball team in the country is playing.” Omidvar added that the intimate venue will be “filled with excitement” from fans who feel like they can “reach out and touch” the players.
That experience could evolve. Omidvar plans to grow the event, attract more prominent teams and “potentially graduate to bigger buildings.”
“The major goal would be to ultimately have an event that could potentially reside inside the Trop,” he said. “Whether or not that happens, that’s a couple of years out.”
Frazier noted that Omidvar and his team graciously provided honorary tournament balls to recognize community leaders. Recipients include City Council Chair Copley Gerdes (Thursday), Gwendolyn Reese (Friday), president of the African American Heritage Association of St. Petersburg, and Police Chief Anthony Hollow (Saturday).
For tickets to the Showdown in St. Pete, visit the website here.
This content provided in partnership with StPeteCatalyst.com
