Inbox:

PHILADELPHIA (August 15, 2023) – Tickets for the first-ever Big 5 Classic, which will be held at the completely transformed, built-for-basketball New Wells Fargo Center on December 2, are on sale now. Tickets for the tripleheader start at just $45 and are good for all three matchups. Group and premium ticket options are also available at big5classic.com.

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Last April, the Big 5 officially welcomed Drexel University and revealed details of a new series format where the Big 5 champion will be determined during a same-day, Big 5 tripleheader in South Philadelphia.

Just last month, the Big 5 announced its new round-robin schedule which will determine the tripleheader matchups at Wells Fargo Center.

For the 2023-24 season, Pod 1 features Drexel, La Salle and Temple while Pod 2 features Penn, Saint Joseph’s and Villanova.

2023-24 Philadelphia Big 5 Men’s Basketball Schedule

(All game times TBA by host school)

  • Monday, Nov. 6 – Drexel at La Salle
  • Friday, Nov. 10 – Penn at Saint Joseph’s
  • Monday, Nov. 13 – Villanova at Penn
  • Tuesday, Nov. 14 – Temple at Drexel
  • Wednesday, Nov. 29 – Saint Joseph’s at Villanova
  • Wednesday, Nov. 29 – La Salle at Temple
  • Saturday, Dec. 2 – Big 5 Classic Tripleheader at Wells Fargo Center

All teams will participate in the Big 5 Classic tripleheader with the first seed in each pod competing for the Big 5 championship, the second-place teams in each pod competing for third place, and the third seeds competing for fifth place.

Honestly, that’s a pretty good deal. Three games for $45? The pod format seems a little corny, vs. having all of the local teams play each other at least once, but they’ve got to try something different to inject some life into the Big 5. Last year they did the Barstool Invitational at the (New) Wells Fargo Center and it pulled more fans than the Palestra doubleheader. Mind you, the Barstool tournament featured the basketball powerhouses of UAB, Toledo, Akron, and Mississippi State, while the Big 5 back-to-back had La Salle, Temple, St. Joe’s, and Penn. Might have been better numbers if Villanova was there, but on no planet should a tournament featuring U-A-fucking-B outdraw the Big 5 in Philadelphia. Embarrassing!

But yeah, let’s give this format a try. You get three games at $15 apiece, and the Big 5 winner will be determined when the two #1 seeds play. It’s different. It’s unique. We are intrigued.