News & Events

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. 

“We are thrilled to launch this annual event in partnership with Orion180, Visit Tampa Bay, Benchmark International Arena, and the University of Florida,” said Dan Shell, President of Total Sports Consulting. “To be able to launch this event with four great State of Florida institutions, a Florida-based title partner in Orion180, and on the opening night of the college basketball season with two nationally televised games is truly the perfect storm for a first-year event.” 

“We are proud to be the founding title partner of the Florida Tip-Off Classic and look forward to celebrating the start of a new college basketball season right here in our home state,” said Ken Gregg, CEO and Founder of Orion180. “Florida has become a hub for growth and innovation in the insurance industry, and we see that same energy and momentum shaping the future of college basketball. We are thrilled to support an event that brings together elite competition, passionate fans, and the enduring spirit of sportsmanship.”

“Gator Nation gives us tremendous support throughout the state of Florida, and we’re excited to return to Tampa to open our season. Opening the year with a high-level matchup in an atmosphere like this is a great opportunity for our program and our fans, and we’re looking forward to being part of such a tremendous event,” said Todd Golden, Florida’s head men’s basketball coach. The Florida Gators men's basketball return four starters and more than 80 percent of their scoring from the 2026 Southeastern Conference championship team, including All-American Thomas Haugh, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Rueben Chinyelu, and All-SEC performer Alex Condon. Florida has produced the three highest-scoring seasons in program history over the past three years, including a program-record 87.1 points per game during the 2025–26 campaign. 

“Miami and Florida is a matchup that means a lot to people across the state,” said Jai Lucas. “To have the opportunity to open the season in Tampa, in front of both fan bases, is something we’re really excited about. It’s great for our program, great for our fans and great for college basketball.” Miami is coming off a historic first season under Lucas, tying the NCAA record for the largest turnaround after finishing 26-9. The Hurricanes earned the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament following a 13-5 conference record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Miami returns starters Dante Allen and Shelton Henderson, who averaged 13.8 and 6.6 points per game, respectively. Henderson started all 35 games and ranked third nationally among freshmen in field goal percentage at 56.7%. They are joined by transfers Acaden Lewis, Somto Cyril, and DeSean Goode, along with McDonald’s All-American Caleb Gaskins. 

"We're excited to open our season in Tampa in an event that showcases four outstanding basketball programs from the state of Florida," Florida State head coach Luke Loucks said. To have Florida State, Florida, Miami and Florida A&M all together in one doubleheader is a great opportunity for our fans and a great celebration of basketball in our state. It’s also especially meaningful for me personally to bring our program back to the Tampa Bay area, so close to my hometown of Clearwater, and play in front of so many Seminole fans from that region. This game will also mark the first regular-season meeting between Florida State and Florida A&M since 1991, which makes the night even more special. Charlie Ward is a great friend and someone who means a lot to Florida State. We have tremendous respect for the program he’s building at FAMU. We’re also excited for this to be the first opportunity for our fans to see our nationally ranked recruiting class and transfer class compete together in a real game setting. We can’t wait to get this group on the floor.”

Florida State enters the 2026-27 season on the rise under head coach Luke Loucks. The Seminoles welcome 13 newcomers, including eight four-star prospects, with a recruiting class ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 2 in the ACC by 247Sports. Their transfer haul is ranked No. 4 nationally by On3. In Loucks’ first season, FSU finished 18-15 overall and 10-8 in ACC play, setting a program record for conference wins by a first-year head coach. The Seminoles closed the year by winning 10 of their final 12 games, including a school-record five consecutive ACC road victories, before falling by one point to Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. Florida State ranked among the ACC leaders in turnovers forced, steals, three-pointers made, turnover margin, and bench scoring, showcasing an up-tempo, aggressive style that generated momentum heading into 2026-27.

“We’re thrilled to host the Florida Tip-Off Classic in Tampa this November and welcome these four prestigious universities, and their fans, to our world-class destination. Tampa Bay is no stranger to hosting marquee college basketball events and this season-opening doubleheader, featuring some of the top programs, and biggest rivals in the state, will provide another opportunity to showcase all that our community has to offer.” 

“We couldn’t be more excited to host more elite basketball in Tampa Bay,” said Lanness Robinson, Executive Director of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. “Coming off an unforgettable NCAA Women’s Final Four, a thrilling March Madness and marquee non-conference matchups, having the Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes and FAMU competing in our backyard is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our destination while rolling out the red carpet for Florida’s top programs.”

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. 

About Orion180 Insurance

Orion180 is a customer-centric insurance brand that combines proprietary technology, real-time data, and advanced underwriting to provide a seamless, transparent, and dependable insurance experience. With a rapidly growing national footprint, the company offers flexible and standard home insurance solutions, including FLEX and HO-3 coverage, as well as DP Landlord, flood, and jewelry protection across AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MS, NC, OH, SC, and TX. Fueled by its proprietary MY180 platform, Orion180 also enhances protection and empowers homeowners with smart home innovations, including the AWTOS water damage mitigation system and PRYZMIQ home self-inspection tool. Orion180 serves more than 10,000 partner agents and 500,000 customers, protecting over $130 billion in assets. The company’s commitment to excellence and serving customers with compassion is reflected in its 14-day average claims resolution and more than 4,000 five-star Google reviews. 

About Benchmark International Arena 

Benchmark International Arena serves as one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the Tampa Bay region, hosting major concerts, sporting events, and nationally televised live entertainment throughout the year. Located in the heart of Tampa Bay, the arena continues to serve as a destination venue for marquee events across Florida and the Southeast. 

About Total Sports Consulting 

Total Sports Consulting (TSC) is a premier sports event management and consulting company specializing in the creation, operation, and commercialization of high-level collegiate basketball events across the country. TSC works directly with universities, conferences, arenas, broadcast partners, and corporate sponsors to develop and execute nationally recognized neutral-site games, multi-team events (MTEs), holiday showcases, and championship-level experiences. The company oversees every aspect of event strategy and execution, including scheduling, television partnerships, sponsorship sales, venue operations, team logistics, hospitality, ticketing, and on-site management. TSC specializes in revenue generation projects for athletic departments, including multimedia rights, naming rights, NIL solutions, coaching representation, and other large-scale sponsorship initiatives. From concept to final buzzer, TSC is focused on delivering first-class events that create value for schools, partners, and fans while continuing to elevate college basketball on a national stage.