Meridian Capital Launches CRE Basketball League in New York

• Meridian Capital Group has launched Full Court Connect, a basketball league exclusively for commercial real estate professionals.
• The first tournament is scheduled for June 14 at Baruch College in New York City.
• The initiative was created to strengthen relationships across the commercial real estate industry through networking and competition.

What Full Court Connect Is Bringing to CRE

Meridian Capital Group is taking commercial real estate networking off the conference floor and onto the basketball court with the launch of Full Court Connect. The new league and tournament platform is designed exclusively for professionals working in commercial real estate, providing a unique opportunity for brokers, lenders, investors, and other industry participants to build relationships in a more active setting. What began as an internal initiative at Meridian quickly expanded after interest emerged from professionals across the broader CRE community.

What Inspired the New League

The concept was developed by David Sirchenko of Meridian’s Capital Markets team, who wanted to create a way for employees across the firm's debt, investment sales, and retail leasing divisions to connect outside of traditional office environments. As the idea gained momentum, it became clear there was demand for a larger industry-wide platform that combined networking, competition, and relationship building. The first tournament will serve as the launch event for what organizers hope becomes a growing fixture within the commercial real estate industry.

What This Means for Commercial Real Estate Networking

Commercial real estate has long relied on conferences, industry events, and client meetings to build business relationships. Full Court Connect introduces a different approach by using sports as a networking tool. The league aims to bring together professionals from various sectors of the industry while creating opportunities for collaboration beyond traditional business settings. Organizers are also exploring partnerships with charitable organizations, potentially adding a philanthropic component to future tournaments and events.

What the Initiative Could Mean for the Industry

As younger professionals continue entering commercial real estate, firms are increasingly looking for new ways to build culture, strengthen relationships, and engage talent. Programs like Full Court Connect reflect a broader trend toward community-driven networking experiences that extend beyond standard industry gatherings. If participation continues growing, the league could become a recurring platform connecting professionals across New York’s commercial real estate market and beyond.

Get Involved

With the inaugural tournament approaching, Full Court Connect is inviting commercial real estate professionals from across the industry to participate, compete, and expand their networks.

Interested in joining the tournament or learning more? Register here.