New York Phoenix pro basketball team to move home games to Schenectady arena and join new league for 2026

A new home floor for 2026

The New York Phoenix, a professional basketball team, announced it will relocate its home venue to the M&T Bank Center at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady for the 2026 season. The move places the team in a newer, state-of-the-art arena that also hosts Union College hockey, and it signals a bid to raise the team’s profile and improve the game-day experience.

The Phoenix played their inaugural season at Armory Studios NY, and the shift to a larger, more traditional arena is being framed by team leadership as a step toward building a stronger local fan base while adding energy to Schenectady’s growing sports-and-entertainment calendar.

League switch: a fresh start with a new pro circuit

Alongside the venue change, the Phoenix said they are moving from The Basketball League into the newly established United States Basketball League. For teams outside the NBA ecosystem, league stability and travel economics can be decisive—so a new league choice often reflects strategic calculations about competition level, exposure, and long-term viability.

The team’s leadership indicated the move is intended to elevate the organization’s trajectory. From a business standpoint, a higher-capacity arena can expand ticket revenue potential, improve sponsor inventory, and allow for more ambitious community partnerships, assuming the club can convert the move into consistent attendance.

Key dates, continuity, and what fans can expect

The Phoenix’s first home game at the new arena is scheduled for March 29 against the Capital Seahawks. The team also said coach and general manager Trevis Wyche will continue in his roles, providing continuity as the franchise changes both venue and league at the same time.

For Schenectady, the announcement is another indicator that the M&T Bank Center is being positioned as a regional hub. For the Phoenix, it is a high-upside bet: a new building, a new league context, and a clear attempt to turn an early-stage franchise into a more durable sports business.