SEATTLE – Seattle University men's basketball has been named to the four-team field for the inaugural 2026 Seattle Holiday Classic, a premier late-season college basketball showcase that will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena, as announced today by Total Sports Consulting.
The event will feature an exciting doubleheader including an intrastate match-up between Seattle U and Washington State. Washington and Baylor will face off in the other game of the event.
"We're excited to be part of the inaugural Seattle Holiday Classic and to compete in an event that showcases great college basketball in the Pacific Northwest," said Head Coach Chris Victor. "Washington State is a great regional matchup and playing at Climate Pledge Arena is always a terrific opportunity for our program and our fans.”
Tickets for the Seattle Holiday Classic will go on sale Wednesday, August 19 through Ticketmaster and the Climate Pledge Arena Box Office. One ticket will provide admission to both games. Fans will also have access to premium courtside seating, luxury suites, hospitality experiences, club seating and discounted group ticket packages.
“We are thrilled to bring the Seattle Holiday Classic to Climate Pledge Arena and welcome these outstanding programs to Seattle,” said Total Sports Consulting President Dan Shell. “This event is a great opportunity to showcase college basketball in one of the country’s premier venues and create a special holiday experience for the teams, fans and the Seattle community.”
The Redhawks enter the 2026-27 season under the direction of sixth-year head coach Chris Victor, who has compiled a 101-67 record while leading the Redhawks to four 20-win seasons in the past five years. In the program's first season back in the West Coast Conference since 1980, Seattle U posted a 21-14 record, tied for fifth in the league standings and earned its first National Invitation Tournament berth since 1957. Six players return from last year's squad, led by reigning WCC Defensive Player of the Year Will Heimbrodt, who set the program's single-season blocks record, and All-WCC selection Junseok Yeo. The Redhawks also welcome an impressive group of newcomers, including Seattle native Mason Williams (Eastern Washington/Iowa State), Cincinnati transfer Halvine Dzellat, Holy Cross transfer Tyler Boston, Saint Martin's standout Kaden Hansen and former Washington State guard Tómas Thrastarson.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the 2026 Seattle Holiday Classic will go on sale Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster, the official ticketing provider of Climate Pledge Arena, and the Climate Pledge Arena Box Office. A single ticket provides admission to both games scheduled throughout the day. Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase premium courtside seating, luxury suites, club seating, hospitality packages and discounted group ticket packages. Additional information regarding premium experiences, parking and event-day fan activities will be announced in the coming months.
ABOUT CLIMATE PLEDGE ARENA
Climate Pledge Arena, located at Seattle Center, is the complete redevelopment of a historic landmark, originally built for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair. The arena is owned by One Roof Sports & Entertainment and operated by Oak View Group. Climate Pledge Arena is home to the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, WNBA’s Seattle Storm, PWHL’s Seattle Torrent, and the world’s biggest performers of live music and events. The arena is named after The Climate Pledge, an initiative founded by Amazon and Global Optimism, asking global corporations to become net zero carbon by 2040. Climate Pledge Arena has one of the most progressive sustainability programs of any building its size, including the first arena to achieve the International Future Living Institute's Zero Carbon Certification. Climate Pledge Arena opened October 19, 2021. Visit climatepledgearena.com.
ABOUT TOTAL SPORTS CONSULTING
Total Sports Consulting (TSC) is a nationally recognized sports management and consulting firm specializing in the creation, operation and commercialization of premier collegiate basketball events throughout the United States. TSC partners with universities, conferences, arenas, broadcast partners and corporate sponsors to develop nationally televised neutral-site games, multi-team events and championship-level experiences. The company oversees every aspect of event management, including scheduling, television partnerships, sponsorship sales, venue operations, ticketing, marketing, hospitality, team logistics and on-site execution. TSC also provides athletic departments with innovative revenue generation strategies through multimedia rights, corporate partnerships, NIL initiatives, coaching representation and strategic consulting. From concept through execution, Total Sports Consulting is committed to creating first-class events that elevate the student-athlete experience while delivering exceptional value for participating institutions, corporate partners and fans nationwide. For more information, visit www.TotalSportsConsulting.com.
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