Great American Conference basketball tournament returns to Fort Smith
by January 27, 2026 12:23 pm 610 views
Around 1,300 people are expected in early March to attend the four-day 2026 Great American Conference (GAC) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships in Fort Smith at the Northside High School arena, according to Discover Fort Smith.
The conference includes universities in Arkansas and Oklahoma. Arkansas universities in the GAC include Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Harding University in Searcy, Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia, and the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
As of Jan. 26, Arkansas Tech was leading the women’s category, and Ouachita Baptist was leading the men’s category.
The four-day tournament is set to begin March 5 and wrap up March 8.
“Hosting the GAC Basketball Championships is about more than competition — it’s about community pride and creating memorable experiences,” Ashleigh Bachert, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB), said in a statement. “These championships bring energy to our city, support our local economy, and showcase Fort Smith as a great place to visit, work, and live.”
According to Bachert, the 2026 tournament is estimated to have 1,300 attendees, with about 500 staying overnight. The economic impact in the Fort Smith area of the four-day tournament is estimated at $568,138, according to the CVB, which manages the Discover Fort Smith website and marketing. The 2025 tournament had a little more than 1,000 attendees, and the economic impact was estimated at $500,000.
Bachert told Talk Business & Politics that former Fort Smith Public Schools Athletic Director Michael Beaumont encouraged the CVB to pursue the tournament prior to 2025.
“We spent about four months working on the bid, discussing the needs with the conference, and proposing the event to both the Fort Smith Public Schools leadership and the A&P Commission Board,” Bachert said. “Everyone was in favor of what it could do, not just for our community, but also for the facilities.”
Bachert said the conference awarded Fort Smith the 2025 and 2026 tournaments, and they will rebid on the tournament for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
“The event further strengthens Fort Smith’s reputation as a destination for sports and athletic events,” noted Discover Fort Smith. “With easy highway access, ample lodging, and a welcoming community, the city offers visiting teams and fans an experience that extends beyond the court — featuring local dining, entertainment, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions.”
The $14.5 million Northside Arena was first used in early 2022, and was funded through a voter-approved millage increase in 2018 that generated around $120 million for districtwide facility and program improvements.