BALLIN’! The MAAC Tournament Returns To The Times Union Center in 2015

You can call it a comeback! A press release announced the MAAC NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament will return to the Times Union Center in downtown Albany 2015-2017.

There have been unconfirmed rumors that Siena college is looking to leave the MAAC Conference. However, the tournament will take place at the TU regardless if they stay or go.

The tournament is one of the biggest draws to the downtown venue each year. When Siena got dropped by Iona in 2000, over 10,000 fans set a single game attendance record. The last time the tournament was held in Albany (2010), a total of over 53,000 fans attended the multi-game tournament.

Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut was the home of the 2011 tournament. The last two years, and the one upcoming, will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The TU general manager Bob Belber touted the positive economic impact the tournament will have on Albany.

The Saints welcome a new coach this season, Jimmy Patsos. He comes to us from another MAAC Conference team, Loyola. The team finished with a crap-tastic 8-24 record last season. Hopefully Patsos turns the program around before the Saints return home to battle for an NCAA Tournament bid.