Races, Tournaments, Championships—Experience Pittsburgh’s Sports Momentum!
Pittsburgh in motion! Our region hosts races, championships, and elite tournaments, all while showcasing the city’s vibrant sports culture.
A Message from Jim Britt
Vice President, Sports Events - SportsPITTSBURGH
On November 6th, I commemorated my first anniversary with the SportsPITTSBURGH team. As I reflect on the year we’ve just had, I am struck by the depth of work being done to deliver world-class events to Allegheny County. Over the past year, we have been to NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships in Philadelphia, the Super Bowl Media Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, a Professional Bull Riders exhibition in Fort Worth, Texas, and a USA vs. England Women’s Rugby World Cup match in Sunderland, UK, just to name a few.
We have attended industry conventions and networked with countless event operators to sing the praises of our beautiful region. In that same year, we’ve crowned Division II Women’s National Champion in basketball, helped the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon to host a record-setting number of participants, welcomed over 3,000 guests to South Park for a USA BMX event, and delivered on more than 55 other sporting events throughout the County.
As we shift our attention towards 2026, with the NFL Draft on the near horizon, I am energized by the palpable momentum we feel across Allegheny County. I couldn’t be more excited for the direction in which we are heading.
Looking Back
The 13th edition of the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler & 10K took place on November 9 and welcomed more than 5,500 participants from Western Pennsylvania and across the country. The courses wound their way through the scenic neighborhoods of Pittsburgh along the rivers, and the finish line for both races was located Downtown on Liberty Avenue.
The EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler & 10K are operated by P3R as part of the organization’s Steel City Series that also includes the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and America’s Mile -- all of which are proudly supported by SportsPITTSBURGH.
Officials from SportsPITTSBURGH, the David L. Lawrence Convention Center and the Sports & Exhibition Authority traveled to Columbus, Ohio, last month (Oct. 13-16) to represent Pittsburgh at the TEAMS ’25 Conference & Expo. Each year TEAMS attracts upwards of 1,500 leaders from sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus, event suppliers, the hospitality industry and corporate sponsors. The highlight for the Pittsburgh contingent this time was meeting with more than 40 event owners -- U.S. Figure Skating, USA Wrestling, and the Ironman Group among them. The latter operates a global portfolio of triathlon, running and road cycling events.
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said: “The enthusiastic response from across the U.S. has been extraordinary. These cities and areas represent not only iconic sports destinations but also new, emerging, and existing rugby communities. Their commitment underscores the opportunity Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031 presents to cement the United States’ status as a major player in global rugby, but also to inspire and unite new fans, audiences, and commercial partners for the sport more broadly to deliver lasting impact.”
Looking Ahead
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association will hold its Small College Division I and Division II Men’s and Women’s Soccer National Championships in Pittsburgh November 13-17. The competition will feature 22 teams, ten division I and twelve division II, and more than 500 student athletes.
For the third consecutive year, pool play will take place at the Montour Junction soccer facility, and the championship matches will be staged at Highmark Stadium with the Pittsburgh skyline as the backdrop.
“We have institutions in our membership who have to rent fields, and even those who do have an on-campus facility may not have an elite facility like Montour Junction,” said BJ Bertges, CEO of USCAA. “So, to give them the opportunity to compete at Montour Junction on two side-by-side turf fields and then play our national championships at Highmark Stadium, you simply cannot beat the experience.”
SportsPITTSBURGH is working with the USCAA -- which is headquartered in Pittsburgh -- and the Riverhounds soccer club to help ensure first-class experiences for the coaches and student athletes. That includes welcoming the teams at the airport and host hotel and creating an enhanced experience on the field and an authentic championship atmosphere at the venues, all the way through the awards presentations.
“You always hear that people never forget how you made them feel.” Bertges said. “So, the collaboration between SportsPITTSBURGH and the Riverhounds with our office is truly a dream team in making sure our participants have a great experience both on and off the field. Not everyone ends their season with a win, only four teams will do that at the end of these championships. So, we want to do all we can to make sure everyone else feels like they've had the best week possible while they’re here.”
Premier Ice Prospects provides female hockey players with the opportunity to showcase their skills against top-tier competition, and a platform to do so will be its 19th The Burgh Thanksgiving Girls Fest, which will be held November 28-30 at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township, Pa. That weekend, teams from the United States and Canada will square off in 10 age brackets, ranging from 10U to 22U. Premier Ice Prospects will host The Burgh Thanksgiving Girls Fest in conjunction with the Penguins Elite organization and with support from SportsPITTSBURGH.
Community Engagement
Partner Opportunity
We’re excited to invite your organization to play a key role in the upcoming 2026 A10 Men’s Basketball Championship by joining the exclusive merchant program. Partners enjoy event-specific promotional opportunities, special perks, and high visibility throughout the championship.
