EPIC FOUR-TEAM COLLEGE BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER
SET TO HEADLINE FIRST-EVER HALL OF FAME SERIES ORLANDO
Florida Hoops Takeover – Florida Gators Headline and FAU Owls Return for Hardwood Showdown at Orlando’s Kia Center on December 12
ORLANDO, FLORIDA [2026] — Position Sports, in partnership with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, announced the inaugural Hall of Fame Series Orlando, featuring a doubleheader on Saturday, December 12, at Kia Center, with Florida facing Georgia Tech for the first time in nearly four decades and Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) meeting for only the second time since 2003. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, August 19, at 10 a.m. ET. One ticket provides admission to both games.
Ranked as the No. 1 team on ESPN.com’s 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings, Florida returns four starters from its 2025-26 SEC championship team, Rueben Chinyelu, Alex Condon, Boogie Fland, and Thomas Haugh. Georgia Tech opens a new era under first-year head coach Scott Cross, bolstered by Top 100 recruit Tylis Jordan, who redshirted his freshman season at Ole Miss and incoming freshman Kayden Allen, ranked No. 47 in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.
FAU enters the matchup coming off the program's fifth consecutive season of 18-plus wins. VCU is fresh off a 28-8 campaign in which the Rams captured a share of the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season title, won the league's tournament championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
“Central Florida is home to two incredibly passionate fan bases in Florida and FAU and this event gives them the chance to see their teams compete against Georgia Tech and VCU in a premier setting without a long trip,” said Melissa Meacham-Grossman, President of Position Sports. “We're proud to bring the Hall of Fame Series to Orlando for the first time and know these fans will show up in a big way.”
Further details regarding game times, broadcast coverage and media credentials for the event will be shared at a later date. For more Hall of Fame Series information and updates, please visit HOFSeries.com or follow @HOFSeries on all social platforms.
The Hall of Fame Series, owned and operated by Position Sports, is a collection of high-profile non-conference basketball events featuring top collegiate programs competing in premier venues across the US and internationally. Annually, the series showcases marquee men’s and women’s matchups while celebrating the legacy and impact of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on the game.
Previous Hall of Fame Series events have been held in Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio and Toronto, featuring many of the nation’s top-ranked programs and drawing national television audiences each season.
Florida vs. Georgia Tech History |
Florida has won the last five meetings with Georgia Tech but trails in the all-time series which dates back to 1923, 27-20. The Gators won the last matchup on November 24, 1987, in the second round of the Preseason NIT. The Yellow Jackets’ last win in the series came at the Gator Bowl Tournament in Jacksonville, FL on December 28, 1970.
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“We’re excited to return to downtown Orlando where Gator Nation has such a strong presence. The Hall of Fame Series has been a key part of our nonconference schedule several times recently and it’s always a first-class experience, so we’re glad for the opportunity to compete in the event right here in Florida. Georgia Tech adds another ACC opponent with great history and tradition to our schedule and Coach Cross certainly brings a winning track record in his first season leading that program.”
Todd Golden // Florida
“The Hall of Fame Series is a premier event and we are excited to have the opportunity to participate this season to showcase not only Georgia Tech, but the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. It will be a great opportunity for Georgia Tech to compete against a high-level Florida team during non-conference play and be an exciting game for our fans.”
Scott Cross // Georgia Tech
The Rams have won all four previous meetings, including the last matchup on December 15, 2021 (66-46).
Quotes from Head Coaches:
“It’s an incredible honor for Florida Atlantic to be invited to play in the Hall of Fame Series Orlando. VCU is a great program and this is certainly a special matchup of two programs that have experienced historic Final Four seasons. I am excited for the opportunity for our team and our fans, and also personally honored to be playing in this series in the same year one of my mentors and friend, Mark Few, is being enshrined in the Hall of Fame.”
John Jakus // FAU
“It is always an honor to participate in an event run by the Hall of Fame. As always, we are looking for quality events and opponents. This is another in a series of great opportunities for our program.”
Phil Martelli Jr. | VCU
Tickets: starting at $15.00 (prices subject to change). Tickets are reserved seating. Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand. All tickets are reserved. Buy tickets at the Kia Center box office or Ticketmaster.com. All dates, act(s) and ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All tickets are subject to applicable taxes, service, handling and facility fee charges. For Kia Center box office and ticket information, visit KiaCenter.com (phone purchases are unavailable through the Kia Center box office). Kia Center is located at 400 West Church Street and the box office is located on the north side of the Kia Center, near the intersection of Church Street and Hughey Avenue.
About Position Sports
Position Sports, established in 2005, is a premium event production and brand marketing firm that specializes in event operations, activation development, media relations, and digital engagement. Over the years, Position Sports has worked with many of the world’s leading brands, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Red Bull, the Basketball Hall of Fame, ESPN Events, USA Basketball, Upper Deck, MLB, and T-Mobile in nearly every major U.S. city and on a global scale. Position Sports provides clients with the expanded strategic direction needed to succeed in the sports marketing arena, also known as Positioning. To learn more, visit positionsports.com or follow @positionsports on X and Instagram.
About Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level—men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors—both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 150 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallU.
About Kia Center
Kia Center, owned and operated by the City of Orlando on behalf of the Central Florida community, hosts games, concerts, family shows and major national events. Since opening in the fall of 2010, the arena has created more than 4,070 jobs, welcomed nearly 20 million guests, hosted over 3,250 events and generated a $6.5 billion economic output. The Orlando Magic served as the developer and the facility was designed to reflect the character of the community, meet the goals of the users and build on the legacy of sports and entertainment in Orlando. The 875,000-square-foot, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold-certified building features a sustainable, environmentally-friendly design with unmatched technology and multiple premium amenities available to all guests. Kia Center was honored with the International Association of Venue Managers' Venue Excellence Award, a distinction bestowed upon facilities that excel in the management and operation of public assembly venues. Additionally, the arena has earned numerous awards, which most notably includes TheStadiumBusiness Awards’ Customer Experience Award and was named SportsBusiness Journal's Sports Facility of the Year. For more information about Kia Center, visit KiaCenter.com
