University of North Carolina Athletics
Head coach Michael Malone
Photo by: Maggie Hobson
Travel Packages On Sale Now For 2027 Nashville Hoops Showdown
September 16, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Travel packages are now available for fans looking for the ultimate experience at the 2027 Nashville Hoops Showdown, a college basketball neutral-site clash between Illinois and North Carolina in the Music City on Jan. 30.
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Packages can be secured by visiting www.nashvillehoopsshowdown.com/travel and includes tickets in the respective team fan blocks, hotel accommodations at one of Nashville's premium properties – the JW Marriott Nashville (North Carolina) and The Westin Nashville (Illinois) – and an exclusive hospitality experience inside Bridgestone Arena on gameday.
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Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 15.
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This will be Carolina's first game in Nashville since a road contest against Vanderbilt in 1987 and first in the state of Tennessee since 2018. The Illini are making a return trip to the Music City after earning a hard-fought win over Tennessee a season ago.
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Voted one of the Best U.S. Cities to Visit in 2026 by U.S. News & World Report and the No. 1 Most Favorably Viewed Large City in America by YouGov, Nashville is a vibrant global destination where world class live music with over 250 live music venues, unmatched southern hospitality and premier sporting events converge to create a unique cultural experience.
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January's contest will be the ninth all-time meeting between the programs, and first since 2010. Each team has won four games in the series. North Carolina and Illinois first met in 1951 before completing a home-and-home in 1986 and 1987. They faced each other five times in an eight-year span from 2002-2010, including a showdown for the 2005 national championship that was won by the Tar Heels.
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Packages can be secured by visiting www.nashvillehoopsshowdown.com/travel and includes tickets in the respective team fan blocks, hotel accommodations at one of Nashville's premium properties – the JW Marriott Nashville (North Carolina) and The Westin Nashville (Illinois) – and an exclusive hospitality experience inside Bridgestone Arena on gameday.
Â
Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale Oct. 15.
Â
This will be Carolina's first game in Nashville since a road contest against Vanderbilt in 1987 and first in the state of Tennessee since 2018. The Illini are making a return trip to the Music City after earning a hard-fought win over Tennessee a season ago.
Â
Voted one of the Best U.S. Cities to Visit in 2026 by U.S. News & World Report and the No. 1 Most Favorably Viewed Large City in America by YouGov, Nashville is a vibrant global destination where world class live music with over 250 live music venues, unmatched southern hospitality and premier sporting events converge to create a unique cultural experience.
Â
January's contest will be the ninth all-time meeting between the programs, and first since 2010. Each team has won four games in the series. North Carolina and Illinois first met in 1951 before completing a home-and-home in 1986 and 1987. They faced each other five times in an eight-year span from 2002-2010, including a showdown for the 2005 national championship that was won by the Tar Heels.
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Friday, September 18
Wednesday, September 16
Tuesday, September 15
Monday, September 14