Atlantic Union Bank Center to Host 2021 CAA Men's Basketball Championship

RICHMOND, Va. - The 2021 Hercules Tires Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship will be held on the campus of James Madison University in the newly-opened Atlantic Union Bank Center, as announced by the league on Wednesday morning.

The tournament will remain on its scheduled dates - March 6-9, 2021 - and all 10 CAA schools are slated to participate.

"We are thrilled to have the support of the conference office and university presidents in hosting the 2021 CAA Men's Basketball Championship at the new Atlantic Union Bank Center," JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said. "We're looking forward to providing the league's student-athletes with an outstanding experience in our first-class facility as we bring one of the CAA's premier events to Harrisonburg. This season has been unique in nearly every way and I can't thank our athletics staff enough for adapting to constant changes and doing so in seamless fashion. We are prepared and excited to play a significant part in the road to NCAA March Madness this spring."

The league was scheduled to hold the 2021 event at the Entertainment and Sports Arena (ESA) in Washington, D.C. for the second consecutive year. Due to the CoVID-19 pandemic, however, moving the tournament to a member institution's campus was in the best interest of CAA student-athletes, coaches and staff. The league plans to return to the ESA in 2022, should health conditions improve.

"In conjunction with our institution's medical professionals, Presidents and Athletic Directors, we are continuing to make decisions that provide our student-athletes with the safest means to participate in intercollegiate athletics during a very challenging period of time," CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio said. "On behalf of the entire CAA membership, I would like to thank JMU President Jon Alger and Athletic Director Jeff Bourne for allowing this event to be held on their campus. We look forward to working with the staff at JMU to provide our men's basketball student-athletes an exceptional championship experience."

This year's edition of the tournament will mark the first time since 1986 that the league will award its men's basketball title at an on-campus facility.

"It's great that we can work with the league and do what's best for the CAA while also showcasing our great facilities and the city of Harrisonburg," JMU Basketball Head Coach Mark Byington said. "I'm proud of the effort that our administration at JMU has made to provide this opportunity and to bring this impact to the program and to the area."

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