University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Field Announced for 2025 Pensacola Invitational
9/30/2025 10:36:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PENSACOLA -- Russ Potts Productions, Inc., Legends Global, and the Pensacola Bay Center announced the inaugural Pensacola Invitational, a four-team championship event taking place November 22-23, at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The four-team field includes Southern Miss, North Florida, UT Martin, and Prairie View A&M. The Golden Eagles will open the event against North Florida at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22. Prairie View A&M and UT Martin are slated to play at 4 p.m. The loser of each game will play the following day at 1:30 p.m., while the championship game is set to be played at 4:30 p.m.
"We are excited to be participating in the Pensacola Invitational," said Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner. "It allows us to once again play inside the Pensacola Bay Center ahead of the Sun Belt Tournament in March. On top of that, it's a short trip for our fans to come support the Golden Eagles."
The event marks an exciting collaboration between three key partners committed to bringing exceptional basketball entertainment to the Gulf Coast region. The Pensacola Bay Center, managed by Legends Global, provides a state-of-the-art venue perfectly suited for high-level collegiate competition. As the Sun Belt Conference Championship's official venue, it is fully equipped with a competition-ready court, professional lighting and sound, locker rooms, media rooms, and practice court access.
Official fan travel packages will be available through Jampack, the exclusive fan experience partner of the Pensacola Invitational. Supporters can choose individual game tickets or upgrade to premium fan experiences. Learn more at Pensacola Invitational | Ticket and Hotel Packages.
Exclusive presale will be available starting Wednesday, October 1st at 10 a.m. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, October 3rd at 10 a.m. For more information about the Pensacola Invitational, click here, or follow @PensacolaInvitational on Instagram.
The Pensacola Invitational is made possible through the strategic partnership of RPPI, Legends Global, and the Pensacola Bay Center.
About Russ Potts Productions, Inc.Â
RPPI, a Virginia-based sports and entertainment company, has organized over 900 major college and professional sporting events in nearly 40 years in the industry. In 2025, RPPI is organizing over a dozen high-profile events on the calendar featuring 40+ men's college basketball programs across the country. RPPI specializes in the organization and promotion of live sports and entertainment content.
About Legends GlobalÂ
Legends Global is the world's leading venue management and services company, overseeing 450+ venues and hosting 20,000 events for 165 million guests each year. As the premier partner for live events, venues, and brands, Legends Global delivers unmatched experiences worldwide.
About Pensacola Bay CenterÂ
The Pensacola Bay Center is a versatile, multi-use event facility located in Pensacola, Florida, serving as a central hub for a wide range of entertainment, sports, and community events. Opened in 1985, this indoor arena is operated by Legends Global and is one of the Gulf Coast's premier venues. The Pensacola Bay Center has taken its place as the number one entertainment and sports venue in the region and the home of the Pensacola Ice Flyers, a professional ice hockey team competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Ice Flyers have won multiple SPHL championships, making them a key part of the Pensacola sports scene.
The four-team field includes Southern Miss, North Florida, UT Martin, and Prairie View A&M. The Golden Eagles will open the event against North Florida at 7 p.m. on Nov. 22. Prairie View A&M and UT Martin are slated to play at 4 p.m. The loser of each game will play the following day at 1:30 p.m., while the championship game is set to be played at 4:30 p.m.
"We are excited to be participating in the Pensacola Invitational," said Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner. "It allows us to once again play inside the Pensacola Bay Center ahead of the Sun Belt Tournament in March. On top of that, it's a short trip for our fans to come support the Golden Eagles."
The event marks an exciting collaboration between three key partners committed to bringing exceptional basketball entertainment to the Gulf Coast region. The Pensacola Bay Center, managed by Legends Global, provides a state-of-the-art venue perfectly suited for high-level collegiate competition. As the Sun Belt Conference Championship's official venue, it is fully equipped with a competition-ready court, professional lighting and sound, locker rooms, media rooms, and practice court access.
Official fan travel packages will be available through Jampack, the exclusive fan experience partner of the Pensacola Invitational. Supporters can choose individual game tickets or upgrade to premium fan experiences. Learn more at Pensacola Invitational | Ticket and Hotel Packages.
Exclusive presale will be available starting Wednesday, October 1st at 10 a.m. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, October 3rd at 10 a.m. For more information about the Pensacola Invitational, click here, or follow @PensacolaInvitational on Instagram.
The Pensacola Invitational is made possible through the strategic partnership of RPPI, Legends Global, and the Pensacola Bay Center.
About Russ Potts Productions, Inc.Â
RPPI, a Virginia-based sports and entertainment company, has organized over 900 major college and professional sporting events in nearly 40 years in the industry. In 2025, RPPI is organizing over a dozen high-profile events on the calendar featuring 40+ men's college basketball programs across the country. RPPI specializes in the organization and promotion of live sports and entertainment content.
About Legends GlobalÂ
Legends Global is the world's leading venue management and services company, overseeing 450+ venues and hosting 20,000 events for 165 million guests each year. As the premier partner for live events, venues, and brands, Legends Global delivers unmatched experiences worldwide.
About Pensacola Bay CenterÂ
The Pensacola Bay Center is a versatile, multi-use event facility located in Pensacola, Florida, serving as a central hub for a wide range of entertainment, sports, and community events. Opened in 1985, this indoor arena is operated by Legends Global and is one of the Gulf Coast's premier venues. The Pensacola Bay Center has taken its place as the number one entertainment and sports venue in the region and the home of the Pensacola Ice Flyers, a professional ice hockey team competing in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Ice Flyers have won multiple SPHL championships, making them a key part of the Pensacola sports scene.
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