WASHINGTON – The Atlantic 10 Conference will relocate its office headquarters to Washington, D.C., the league announced Thursday in a press conference in the District. The move places conference operations in the geographic center of the membership footprint and makes the A-10 the only NCAA Division I conference to house its headquarters in the nation’s capital.
The Atlantic 10 will begin to take residency in the new offices in November of 2023. The move is expected to be completed in June of 2024, following the 2023-24 academic and athletic year. The conference has been headquartered in Newport News, Va., since the fall of 2009. The decision to move was unanimously supported by the Atlantic 10 Presidents Council.
“The District is a vibrant major location with significant advantages in travel, economics and nationally recognized media,” stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. “Washington provides access to a highly educated, diverse community that embraces Fortune 500 companies, innovative technology and is the political center of the world, all factors in the current college athletics landscape. With its robust sports history and dedicated fan bases throughout the national capital region, we are proud and excited to move to Washington, D.C.”
The new office is approximately 5,000 square feet and located in the National Center for Higher Education building near Dupont Circle that houses headquarters offices for The American Council on Education (ACE), and other tenants in higher education, including an NCAA satellite bureau. The showcase of the new office is a state-of-the-art advance media studio, content production, editing office and broadcast studio. The completely new space also features single and shared offices with workstations, a staff conference room and larger conference meeting spaces to conduct both virtual and in-person large meetings. The A-10 partnered with the District of Columbia Government, the Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), and Events DC for the move.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome the Atlantic 10 Conference headquarters to the Sports Capital,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “DC is a city where people and organizations come to collaborate, attract new talent, and grow. We also know that sports bring people together, so having the A-10 in DC is a win-win for our city and for sports. We look forward to working with Commissioner McGlade and her team on the new partnerships and opportunities ahead and welcoming their 15 member schools to the best city in the world.”
Washington, D.C. has previously served as the host city for the league’s signature event, the A-10 Men’s Basketball Championship, which was played at Capital One Arena in 2018 and 2022, and will again host the 15-team tournament in 2025. DC has also hosted the Atlantic 10 Volleyball, Women’s Lacrosse and Softball Championships, and the Cross Country, Baseball and Rowing Championships have been held in the DC metro region.
“The Atlantic 10 presidents voted unanimously and enthusiastically to move the league headquarters to Washington, D.C.,” said Eric F. Spina, president of the University of Dayton and chair of the A-10 Presidents Council. “I am grateful to Mayor Bowser and her economic development team for the great opportunity that was presented to us. We are all very proud to know that the Atlantic 10 is the center of college athletics in our nation’s capital.”
Efficiency of travel to and from the league office played a significant role in the decision to relocate, with seven of the league’s 15 members within a four-hour commute, and three major airports providing direct flight access to the entire conference footprint. This also allows the A-10 Presidents Council and other governance groups to easily reach the conference office for meetings.
“Landing the Atlantic 10’s headquarters in our central business district is an incredible win for DC. Having a major Division I Conference in our backyard gives us the opportunity to host more championship tournaments and collegiate educational conferences in the nation's capital. This will provide exponential economic impacts and supports goals established with the Mayor’s DC Comeback Plan,” said Chad Shuskey, Interim President and CEO, Washington DC Economic Partnership.
The innovative studio space within the office expands the A-10’s ability to create and distribute content, from studio sports shows to educational seminars geared toward the league’s more than 5,000 student-athletes. The studio will also be made available to the member institutions for their use in storytelling and producing content.
"I am delighted to welcome the Atlantic 10 Conference office and the 15 member schools that the A-10 represents to Washington," said George Washington Director of Athletics Tanya Vogel, who serves as chair of the A-10 Athletic Directors. "We know firsthand how powerful, dynamic and vibrant the nation's capital is, and I look forward to watching Commissioner McGlade and her staff thrive in our great city. Welcome to the District of Champions!"