Palestra to Host Ivy Madness Amidst Centennial Celebration

The Palestra will celebrate its centennial on January 1, 2027, and the Ivy League will host its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments at the storied arena next season in celebration of that anniversary.

“We are excited to bring Ivy Madness back to Philadelphia as part of the 100-year anniversary of the historic Palestra,” Ivy League Executive Director Robin Harris said in a press release. “Since its inception, Ivy Madness has provided a season-capstone experience for student-athletes, coaches, and fans, and it has thrived in each Ivy League community it has visited over the past eight years. We anticipate tremendous excitement for the 2027 tournaments in Philadelphia.”

The location for Ivy Madness cycles between the eight different member institutions, with the University of Pennsylvania hosting the inaugural tournament in 2017 at the Palestra and again the following season. Dartmouth was scheduled to host next season, the last school yet to do so, but agreed to pass up on the opportunity in celebration of the anniversary of the “Cathedral of College Basketball.”

“Dartmouth’s willingness to forego hosting the 2027 tournaments in order for the league to celebrate this historic milestone, while also allowing time to evaluate the future structure of the event, is a testament to the collaborative spirit that defines the Ivy League,” Harris said.

Penn won the Ivy League title and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament this past season, their first under program alumnus Fran McCaffery. Only the top four seeds in the league qualify for Ivy Madness, but the Quakers should have an excellent chance at going back-to-back on their home court.