Is the MAAC Basketball Tournament Looking to Leave Atlantic City, NJ?

The 2023 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships return to the historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall from March 7-11.

Last season we were treated to an amazing tournament, with St. Peter's not only cutting down the nets in Atlantic City, they made an incredible run in the NCAA Tournament, beating Kentucky, Murray State and Purdue, before falling to North Carolina in the Elite Eight.

There was a tremendous crowd of over 14,000 filled Boardwalk Hall on Championship Saturday as the Peacocks knocked off Monmouth in the championship game.

But will the 2023 tournament be the final one in Atlantic City?

MAAC Commissioner, Rich Ensor sent out a tweet on Monday, that suggested that that the league could be looking for a new home starting in 2024.

"MAAC ADs will review future @MAACHoops tourney locations for 2024-26," Ensor tweeted.

The 2023 version will be back starting on Tuesday, March 7, but it seems quite possible that it could be the final year of the MAAC in Atlantic City.

I am told that Atlantic City is one of three finalist to secure the 2024 tournament and a review process starts this week with the MAAC Committee on Athletic Administration.

The MAAC has called Albany, NY, Springfield, MA, Bridgeport, CT, Trenton, NJ, Buffalo, NY, East Rutherford, NJ, and New Haven, CT home since 1982.

Like the A-10 before it, which left to play at the Barclay's Center following the 2012 tournament, the MAAC could bolt the city to find a new home.

The MAAC is a great league and I had a ton of fun going to games last season, watching a game at Boardwalk Hall is a tremendous experience.  If you were there on Championship Saturday, I am sure you are making plans to go back for a game at this year's tournament.

Hopefully, it's not the last tournament in Atlantic City.