Washington, D.C. (November 12, 2025) Tickets will go on sale Friday, November 14 at 12:00pm ET for Duel in the District, an NCAA men’s basketball matchup featuring the Duke Blue Devils and Michigan Wolverines. This matchup will take place Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 6:30pm ET at Capital One Arena in Washington DC. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com.
Duke is currently ranked #4, and Michigan is currently ranked #6.
The game will mark the seventh meeting between the Blue Devils and Wolverines on a neutral floor and 31st overall meeting dating back to 1963. Duke leads the series 22-8, including a 79-69 win in their last meeting at Cameron Indoor Stadium as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in 2013.
Duel in The District marks the return of both teams to the host venue, following Duke’s appearance in the 2024 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena, and Michigan’s conference title win during the 2017 Big 10 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
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About the Gazelle Group
The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally recognized college sports events, such as the Empire Classic, Legends Classic, Gotham Classic, Sunshine Slam, College Basketball Invitational, Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off, Wolverine- Deacon Challenge, Boardwalk Battle, Jersey Jam, and Holiday Hoopfest as well as on-campus events at Kentucky, Ohio State, Marquette and other institutions across the country. For more information on the Gazelle Group, please visit gazellegroup.com.
About Monumental Sports & Entertainment
Monumental Sports & Entertainment is America’s leading integrated sports and entertainment company and is ranked as one of the most valuable globally. Our people, players, teams, and events bring excitement and joy to millions. We invest and innovate to consistently raise the game so we can deliver extraordinary experiences that will inspire and unite our community, our fans, and our people. To learn more, please visit https://monumentalsports.com/.
In addition to this marquee matchup, Capital One Arena is set to host several high-profile NCAA events in the coming years including the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional in 2026, the 2027 Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, and 2028 Division I Women’s Basketball Regional.
Today’s announcement comes as Phase One of construction is being finalized on the next-generation arena, a project central to MSE’s broader efforts to revitalize downtown Washington, D.C. and position the District as a global sports and entertainment capital. MSE is taking a 360-degree approach to reimagining the fan experience, with a focus on cutting-edge technology, immersive design, and community impact — creating a high-tech, high-touch venue built to inspire millions of annual visitors for the next 25 years. Additional information about MSE’s brand-new arena is available HERE.
