It’s that time of year again—NIRSA Championship Series Regional Tournaments are sweeping across the United States. Each season, we see between six and eight host sites per sport, with some regions offering multiple tournaments to meet the demand of teams eager to compete. While some of our host sites return year after year, we also work to provide our volunteers, officials, and participants with opportunities to experience new campuses and facilities that match the unique needs of each sport’s landscape.
Selecting host sites is more than just picking names from a list—it’s a careful, deliberate matchmaking process. Each year, our NIRSA Championship Series work teams act like the Match.com of tournament hosting, pairing the unique needs of each sport with institutions by reviewing the applications through a strategic lens. Their goal? To create the best possible experiences for participants, volunteers, and officials by matching the right tournament with the right host, a pairing that sets the foundation for a successful event.
As LeAnne Davis, Chair of the Basketball Work Team, and Vice Chair Wyatt Lee explain:
“Host sites for the NIRSA Championship Series play a pivotal role in advancing collegiate recreation. The selection process is critical to ensuring a successful and positive experience for all participants. We evaluate factors like geographic location, facility quality, staffing capacity, and risk management plans to ensure hosts can provide a high-quality, safe, and inclusive tournament environment. When a site applies, it shows a strong level of buy-in, enthusiasm, and commitment to The Series and to NIRSA as a whole.”
Volunteering to host also brings immense value to the Series itself. As Josh Hale, Chair of the Flag Football Work Team, and Vice Chair Britton Lyon put it:
“The value that a regional host site brings to the NIRSA Championship Series is immense. When a site applies to host a tournament, they’re not just offering fields or facilities—they’re creating a memorable championship experience. Regional hosts set the tone for student engagement, hospitality, and professionalism, all while fostering connections across institutions. They help elevate the standard of play and operations, serving as the backbone of what makes The Series successful year after year.”
This level of commitment—from initial application through execution—is what keeps The Series thriving. Host sites offer more than a location; they bring their energy, expertise, and pride to create environments where student officials, volunteers, and athletes can grow and succeed.
Saying that, we also know the commitment to host comes with challenges. That’s why the NIRSA Executive Team and NIRSA Staff continue to pursue and secure regional sponsorships that better serve our host institutions. While we’d love to guarantee big, flashy partnerships for all our tournament hosts, we’re also focused on taking the fundamental first steps that make tournaments more sustainable for future generations.
Because let’s be honest, what’s better than a perfect match between a host site, invested sponsors, and the NIRSA Champ Series?
We remain committed to providing the best possible experience and support to our host partners. If your institution is ready to be part of the NIRSA Championship Series future, we hope you’ll consider joining our “matchmaking process” for the 2026–2027 Regional Tournaments. After all, every great tournament begins with a great host.
- For more information, contact NIRSA National Sport Programs Coordinator Lauren Carlson.
Lauren Carlson is currently the Sports Programs Coordinator at NIRSA.
