Release - ORION180 TIP-OFF CLASSIC TO OPEN THE 2026 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON AT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL ARENA
ORION180 TIP-OFF CLASSIC TO OPEN THE 2026 COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON AT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL ARENA
FLORIDA VS. MIAMI AND FLORIDA STATE VS. FLORIDA A&M SET FOR MARQUEE OPENING NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER IN TAMPA ON NOVEMBER 2, 2026
TAMPA, FL (June 2026) – The 2026 men’s college basketball season will tip off in a major way as the inaugural Orion180 Tip-Off Classic comes to Benchmark International Arena on Monday, November 2, 2026, featuring a marquee opening-night doubleheader with the Florida Gators taking on the Miami Hurricanes, followed by the Florida State Seminoles facing the Florida A&M Rattlers.
The nationally televised opening night event will showcase four prominent Florida teams competing on one of the sport’s biggest early-season stages. Broadcast across the ESPN Family of Networks, the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic is expected to serve as one of the premier opening night events in all of college basketball, bringing national attention to Tampa Bay and setting the tone for the 2026-27 season.
Florida enters the season as the preseason #1 ranked team in the country under head coach Todd Golden, bringing one of the nation’s premier programs and highest expectations into opening night. Miami Hurricanes men's basketball remains one of the ACC’s most recognizable brands, with a passionate fan base and a history of competing on the national stage. Florida State Seminoles men's basketball continues to be one of the flagship programs in the state and will look to open the season with a strong statement against an in-state opponent. Florida A&M Rattlers men's basketball adds a compelling storyline to the night as head coach Charlie Ward begins the season facing his alma mater, bringing an added level of excitement and emotion to an already marquee opening night doubleheader.
As title partner, insurance innovator Orion180 continues to strengthen its presence across major sports and entertainment properties throughout Florida, and across the country, making the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic a natural extension of the company’s commitment to community engagement, premier live experiences, and a more personal, human-centric approach to insurance.
Orion180 Tip Off Classic Event Details
Event Date: Monday – November 2, 2026
Location: Benchmark International Arena
National Television: ESPN2 & ESPNU
6:00 PM – #1 Florida Gators vs. #21 Miami Hurricanes 8:30 PM – Florida State Seminoles vs. Florida A&M Rattlers
Tickets for the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic at Benchmark International Arena will go on sale beginning at 10:00 AM ET on June 8, 2026, with one ticket granting admission to both games of the doubleheader featuring Florida vs. Miami and Florida State vs. Florida A&M. The nationally televised showcase, airing across ESPN2 and the ESPN family of networks, will bring four of the state’s premier basketball programs together in downtown Tampa for one of the marquee opening-night events of the 2026 college basketball season. Additional details regarding premium hospitality experiences, fan events, and ticket offerings will be announced at a later date. The Orion180 Tip-Off Classic further solidifies Tampa Bay as one of the nation’s premier destinations for major non-conference college basketball events.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic will go on sale beginning at 10:00 AM ET on June 8, 2026, and will be available online at Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will also be available at the ReliaQuest Ticket Office at Benchmark International Arena exclusively on event days beginning three hours prior to the first scheduled game. Admission includes access to both games of the doubleheader. Premium hospitality packages, courtside seating, suites, and group sales opportunities will also be available. Advanced parking passes can be purchased through ParkWhiz.com. For additional event information, visit benchmarkintlarena.com or call 813.301.2500.