New CITY Collegiate Conference Announces 10 Members
CUNY Athletics
The newly established CITY Collegiate Conference has unveiled its official branding ahead of the 2027–28 NCAA Division III season. The conference brings together eight CUNY colleges and two private institutions, Pratt Institute and Saint Elizabeth Un
New York City's college sports landscape is preparing for a significant change as the newly established CITY Collegiate Conference brings public and private institutions together under one NCAA Division III organization. Scheduled to begin competition in 2027–28, the conference will unite eight CUNY colleges with Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey. The move creates a broader regional platform for college athletics, connecting student-athletes across four NYC boroughs and neighboring New Jersey. With championships planned in 18 sports, the conference aims to strengthen local rivalries, expand competitive opportunities and reduce travel demands for student-athletes balancing academics and athletics. Building on CUNYAC's history, CITY represents a new chapter for metropolitan college sports while maintaining strong ties to New York City's public university system.
CITY Collegiate Conference, Newest NCAA Division III Conference, To Begin Play in 2027-28
The CITY Collegiate Conference, the newest NCAA Division III athletic conference, is set to begin play in the 2027-28 academic year. The CITY, the “rebirth” of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), is set to begin play with 10 member institutions located in the New York City metro area: Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College of New York, Hunter College, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Lehman College, Medgar Evers College, Pratt Institute, Saint Elizabeth University and York College.
For its new identity the conference partnered with SKYE (https://www.skye.design ), a sport branding agency based in Florham Park, New Jersey. The complete brand identity will be released at a later date.
The CITY Collegiate Conference will sponsor championships in 18 Division III sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field and men’s and women’s volleyball.
“The release of the official name and logo of the CITY Collegiate Conference is just the next step in the organization of this newly incorporated Division III athletic conference,” said Dr. Kurt Patberg, Acting Commissioner of the current CUNY Athletic Conference. “The leadership of this group of ten colleges and universities are excited for the future of DIII athletics in the metro New York area.”
“The development of this conference is an important step forward for many of us,” said Dr. Fernando Delgado, president of Lehman College and chair of the CITY Collegiate Conference Presidents’ Council. “The conference encompasses the metropolitan region and provides exceptional athletic opportunities at our member schools, both public and private.”
“The creation of the City Collegiate Conference will help elevate the student athlete experience by securing our paths in multiple team sports to the NCAA Tournament, increasing participation numbers in individual sport conference championships, improve the level of competition within the conference and limiting travel for our student athletes allowing them to have the proper balance of academics and athletics,” said Erik Smiles, Director of Athletics at Brooklyn College and chairperson of the CITY Collegiate Conference Athletic Directors’ Council.
The CITY Collegiate Conference footprint encompasses four of New York City’s five boroughs, with Manhattan (Baruch, CCNY, Hunter, John Jay), Brooklyn (Brooklyn, Medgar Evers, Pratt), Queens (York), and the Bronx (Lehman) all represented, as well as Saint Elizabeth, which is located in Morristown, New Jersey, approximately 26 miles from Manhattan.
“Connection, opportunity, and grit define both the region and the student-athlete experience. We built the identity to reflect that shared spirit,” said Skye Dillon, founder of SKYE Design Studios. “CITY is strong, timeless, and authentic to the region. It represents a natural evolution of the conference’s CUNY heritage and a bold foundation for its next chapter. Bringing CITY and the Statue of Liberty together within the logo gives the identity an immediate sense of place and an enduring sense of possibility, capturing the values at the heart of the conference.”
“This identity was a true team effort. We are grateful to the conference staff and institutional stakeholders for their leadership, insight, and collaboration in shaping a brand that reflects their shared vision.”
Source: CUNY Athletics
