NEW ORLEANS – New Orleans & Company and the UNO Privateers are excited to announce the inaugural Maestri Classic, a college baseball showcase at the University of New Orleans (UNO) Maestri Field at Privateer Park, from Friday, February 19 through Sunday, February 22.
The 2026 field features the UNO Privateers, Northern Kentucky University, the University of Louisiana Monroe, and Alabama A&M University, all traveling to New Orleans for a weekend of competitive baseball and community-driven programming.
"I am honored to have my name on the Maestri Classic. The University of New Orleans and the baseball program mean the world to me. I am looking forward to the first tournament and seeing it grow," said former UNO Head Baseball Coach and Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Ron Maestri. "It will be a great event for UNO and the city as we bring three other schools and their fans to the city. I want to thank Walt Leger and the people at New Orleans & Company for making this possible."
"We are extremely excited and honored that we can host such a special tournament, and we owe sincere appreciation to Walt Leger and his vision of using New Orleans and Company resources to help grow baseball in the Crescent City," said UNO Head Baseball Coach Andrew Gipson.
"The Maestri Classic is a great opportunity to not only showcase and celebrate college baseball in New Orleans, but will also serve as a well-deserved tribute to our very own Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer, Coach Ron Maestri," said Walt Leger, President & CEO of New Orleans & Company. "We look forward to hosting local and visiting fans all weekend long at Maestri Field for the start of baseball season, while also producing a robust itinerary of free family friendly events on Thursday evening with the Miracle League and Backyard Baseball as we welcome the teams to our town like nowhere else can."
To kick off the weekend, Thursday night will feature a free-to-the-public Welcome Celebration in partnership with
Backyard Sports, the legendary video-game franchise now revived by Playground Productions. In addition to welcoming the visiting teams in true New Orleans fashion, the evening will offer food, music, Backyard Baseball gaming stations, prizes, and family-friendly activities to celebrate the launch of this new annual tradition. Fans of this nostalgic and viral video game are invited to attend the free event, complete with gaming activities, promotional giveaways, and a special real life exhibition game featuring the Privateers and local Miracle League All Stars.
"Backyard Sports is proud to partner with New Orleans & Company, UNO Baseball, and the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans for a weekend of outstanding baseball and community events centered on our fans and our commitment to making sports accessible for all," said Lindsay Barnett, CEO, Playground Productions, which owns Backyard Sports.
The evening will also feature UNO and Alabama A&M players joining the All-Star team from
Miracle League of Greater New Orleans in a special exhibition game. The Miracle League creates opportunities for children with disabilities to experience the joy of sports while fostering inclusion, understanding, and community support. Players from both teams will engage with Miracle League athletes in what promises to be one of the most memorable moments of the week.
"The Miracle League is thrilled to partner with UNO Baseball and Playground Productions as part of this year's Maestri Classic," said Gina Lorio of the Miracle League of Greater New Orleans. "Every young athlete dreams of taking the field and being part of a team, and our Miracle League players are no different. This exhibition game offers them the unforgettable opportunity to join college athletes on the diamond and truly feel like they've made it to the big leagues."
"This tournament is special for a couple of reasons. The first is that we are getting to honor Coach Maestri through this tournament. His legacy and impact on this program and city are beyond measure," added Coach Gipson. "I'm thankful for his friendship and mentorship, and I hope that he feels like we honor him by the way we play in this tournament. Additionally, we are excited to partner with Miracle League of Greater New Orleans and Backyard Sports. All of this is about serving and bringing a community together. We are glad to be a small part of that."
The Maestri Classic plans to be an annual event with 2027 participants already confirmed including Yale, Villanova and Arkansas State joining UNO.
For ticket details and game schedules, please visit the University of New Orleans Athletics website
at this link.
About New Orleans & Company
New Orleans & Company is the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans' tourism industry. Founded in 1960, our mission is to inspire, promote and encourage travel to our city for the economic, social and community benefit of New Orleans and its people. Our vision is to ensure New Orleans remains the most remarkable, unique, and welcoming city in the world. For more information, visit us at neworleans.com or on social media @VisitNewOrleans or @Neworleansandco.
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