Game time, location not likely to change for Villanova-Providence basketball game on Sunday

Moving the time and location of Villanova-Providence isn't that simple, so the show will go on.

Brandon Slater and Villanova will play as scheduled on Sunday at Wells Fargo Center.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

Published Jan. 23, 2023, 11:02 a.m. ET

The Sunday afternoon men’s basketball game between Villanova and No. 23 Providence remains scheduled for noon at the Wells Fargo Center, even with the Eagles and 49ers scheduled to kick off their NFC championship game at Lincoln Financial Field across the street at 3 p.m.

A Villanova spokesperson said it remains “all systems go” for Sunday at noon. Ticket holders will be receiving parking and mass transit information early this week, and that information will be shared on various social media outlets.

It’s unclear how many tickets have been sold for the game. The Wildcats played one game in South Philadelphia earlier this season, Dec. 3 vs. Oklahoma, and it drew a crowd of more than 17,000.

The logistics of changing the time and/or location for Sunday’s game are difficult. The Big East has a television contract with Fox, and Sunday’s game is being broadcast on FS1. Further, moving the game to Villanova’s on-campus Finneran Pavilion, where the Wildcats play most of their games, means moving it to a building that holds about 6,500.

At least one person on social media suggested moving the game to Saturday night and playing it after the 76ers host the Denver Nuggets. FS1 and Fox have other scheduled programming during that time. Another suggested swapping home and away dates. The Wildcats are scheduled to play at Providence on Feb. 18. The Wells Fargo Center is booked all day with Jurassic World live shows.

There are no great answers, and the show will go on. And unlike last weekend, Eagles fans won’t have to buy up Villanova tickets in order to get into the tailgating lots early.