DALLAS – Conference USA announced Friday an extension of its partnership with the City of Huntsville to host an expanded slate of championship events through 2029, in conjunction with the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
The agreement will bring the next three CUSA Basketball Championships (2027-29), the next three CUSA Beach Volleyball Championships (2027-29) and the 2026 and 2028 CUSA Cross Country Championships to the Rocket City.
“Huntsville has proven to be an exceptional host and partner for Conference USA championships,” said CUSA Commissioner
Judy MacLeod. “Extending and expanding this partnership allows us to continue delivering first-class championship experiences for our student-athletes while showcasing the area’s outstanding venues, hospitality and commitment to collegiate athletics. We are excited to build on this momentum in the coming years.”
The continuation of these championship events solidifies Huntsville’s role as a cornerstone destination for Conference USA athletics and provides student-athletes and fans alike with premier competitive experiences in state-of-the-art facilities.
“We are proud to continue our partnership with Conference USA to bring outstanding student-athletes to Huntsville for high-level competition,” said
Tommy Battle, Mayor of Huntsville. “These events showcase our city, energize our economy, and create exceptional experiences for athletes, fans and visitors alike.”
The city is preparing to host the Air National Guard CUSA Basketball Championships for the third-straight season and previously hosted the 2025 CUSA Cross Country Championships and 2022 CUSA Beach Volleyball Championships.
“Our team is excited to further our partnership with Conference USA through 2029,” said
Joel Lamp, Sports Development Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County CVB. “Extending our hosting duties for the basketball championships and expanding to the beach volleyball and cross country championships showcases Huntsville’s reputation as a championship destination.”
“Creating a premier championship experience for student-athletes is central to our mission,” said
Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “Huntsville has established itself as a leading destination for collegiate sports, and we are honored to continue and expand our relationship with Conference USA. We look forward to welcoming the conference back to the Rocket City.”
ABOUT CONFERENCE USA
Conference USA is an NCAA Division I conference championing success in college athletics through dedicated leadership, dynamic partnership and diverse membership. Founded in 1995 and based in Dallas, CUSA is home to 12 schools: Delaware, FIU, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, UTEP, and WKU.
ABOUT THE HUNTSVILLE SPORTS COMMISSION
The Huntsville Sports Commission is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3), organization that promotes and enhances the quality of life in Huntsville by identifying, recruiting, promoting, and staging sporting events and meetings. At the Huntsville Sports Commissions we worry about the details so you don’t have to. For more information, contact Avery Fancher, Communications Coordinator, 256-585-5786,
avery.fancher@huntsvilleal.gov.
ABOUT THE HUNTSVILLE/MADISON COUNTY CVB
The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) is a quasi-governmental organization formed in 1976 to promote economic growth by marketing the community as a convention and visitor destination. As the official city/county destination marketing organization, the CVB works with an array of hospitality industry partners to promote our community to visitors of all types.
ABOUT THE VON BRAUN CENTER/PROPST ARENA
Since 1975, the Von Braun Center has been a space for people to gather and create shared experiences. As a multi-purpose facility located in downtown Huntsville, Alabama, the VBC offers multiple venues for presenting cultural, educational, entertainment, sporting and social events. Venue spaces include the Propst Arena, Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, The Playhouse, Mars Music Hall, South Hall, East Hall, and Saturn Ballroom. Additionally, the VBC has an on-site restaurant and rooftop bar – Rhythm on Monroe. With over 170,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the VBC accommodates events of all types and sizes.