NASSAU, Bahamas (June 17, 2026) – Valparaiso men's basketball fans can gain their first look at the 2026-27 Beacons when the squad plays two exhibition games against international competition as part of the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, Monday, Aug. 3 and Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the amazing Baha Mar resort. Veteran event promoter bdG Sports made the announcement Wednesday.
The six-day trip runs Aug. 1 through Aug. 6 with each game taking place at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center on-site at the resort. Opponents, including international teams and Canadian universities, as well as game times will be announced later.
 
"Our trip to Baha Mar will provide our team with the opportunity to gain valuable experience as we prepare for the upcoming season," Valpo head coach Roger Powell Jr. said. "We look forward to getting on the court in game situations as we blend an exciting group of newcomers with our strong returning core. Our team will grow together on and off the court through this experience. We're thankful to everyone who helped make this trip possible."
Plans are also in the works for the Beacons to give back to the Nassau community with a free kids' basketball camp during their stay in the capital city.
 
The new Valpo roster is headlined by returning sophomore forward JT Pettigrew, who claimed all-league honors and finished runner up in voting for Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year after averaging 12.5 points and 6.8 rebounds last season.
 
The Beacons continued their upward trajectory under Powell a year ago, finishing 18-15 overall and 11-9 in the league. It marked Valpo's highest overall win total since 2019-20 and its highest league win percentage since joining The Valley (2017-18).
 
New NCAA rules allow college teams to take a foreign tour annually after the previous rule allowed such a trip only once every four academic years.
 
The announcement of additional U.S. college teams scheduled to participate in the 2026 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League will come soon. The fifth-annual event is managed by bdG Sports, a Kentucky-based sports and entertainment management firm which annually operates two dozen collegiate men's and women's basketball games at Baha Mar each November.
"Summer tours have become vitally important to teams in today's college basketball environment," President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. "We are seeing incredible interest from throughout the sport given the number of benefits, such as the 10 extra practices, the multiple games, and the opportunity for team bonding in one of the world's most incredible destinations. The $4 billion resort at beautiful Cable Beach boasts entertainment options for everyone, including incredible dining options, a casino, a $250 million water park, and a new jazz club. Baha Mar is excited to welcome Valpo to The Bahamas!"

TICKETS, ROOMS & FAN PACKAGES

The trip serves as the first opportunity to catch the Beacons in action while also enjoying the amazing Baha Mar resort.
There are five different packages available:
-Single Occupancy OV King Room - $4,875
-Double Occupancy OV King Room - $6,000
-Double Occupancy OV Queen/Queen Room - $6,375
-Single Occupancy OV King Suite - $7,000
-Double Occupancy OV King Suite - $8,125
Each package would include:
-Two premium reserved tickets to both games
-Reception tickets for two (Aug. 2)
-Ground transfers to/from the airport in Nassau
-Daily Breakfast vouchers
-Welcome gift package
Click here for more information. Packages will be available for purchase at that link beginning next week
 
Please note: Flights to and from Nassau would be separately booked by the guest. A valid passport is required to enter the Bahamas.

WONDER AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau's famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean's first and only flagship ESPA Spa, a new jazz club, and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

Each November around the Thanksgiving holiday, Baha Mar plays host to Baha Mar Hoops, one of the largest regular-season events in the sport of college basketball. Twenty NCAA Division I men's and women's teams visit the stunning resort each year to compete in one of three basketball tournaments. In total, 20 games will be played over an 11-day span.
Each August, the resort also holds the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, offering NCAA teams exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed men's basketball teams from Kentucky, Louisville, Nevada, Penn State, Rhode Island and Xavier for summer exhibition tours in recent years.

BAHA MAR HOOPS SOCIAL TAGS

Keep up to date with the latest information regarding Bah Mar Hoops via social media at @BahaMarHoops on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

ABOUT BDG SPORTS

bdG Sports is a sports and entertainment leader with a dynamic and ever-growing event management portfolio with a cornerstone in basketball and professional golf and an expansive focus toward baseball. The firm boasts an event schedule that has delivered significant economic impact to multiple communities throughout North America and the Caribbean while featuring broadcasts to viewers across the globe.
In basketball, bdG has a lengthy history of producing premium college basketball content. From summer exhibition tours to multiple high-profile in-season tournaments and neutral-site events, bdG will contract more than 100 regular-season men's and women's Division I basketball games annually. It boasts the record for the largest hoops