Played in the spacious Carlson Center (4,901 capacity), the tournament combines the nation's best college basketball and the best in Alaskan hospitality and entertainment. In addition to the numerous cultural events supporting the tournament, NBA mascots and former NBA stars have graced the tournaments' presence. Everyone from Mark Eaton to Clyde Drexler to mascots from the Seattle Supersonics, Washington Wizards and Houston Rockets have all played their part in making the tournament memorable for fans and players alike.

Teams are treated royally, with a warm Alaskan greeting upon their arrival at the airport from their local area school district's "adopted school" as well as savory treats, participation gifts, dog sled rides, gold panning and more! It's an educational experience as well as an athletic experience that players and coaches talk about for years after they've left.

Local high schools and middle schools are matched with a university participating in the Top of the World Classic. The Adopt-A-School program is a cooperative effort between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District. The local schools help their Classic team with supplemental practice times as well as fan support during the tournament with their cheerleaders and student cheering section. The association promotes positive and educational interaction between students, players and staff of their adopted schools.

In addition to the local adopted school, each team is supported locally with a "host family": one of the most important parts of the Top of the World Classic. Chosen with great care by the organizing committee, nine dedicated, hard-working Fairbanks families give their time and considerable talents to act as official hosts for their assigned Classic team. The host families serve as the liaison between Fairbanks and the visiting team, assisting with lodging, transportation, dining and entertainment arrangements to help ease the team's worries about traveling such a great distance. The tasks of the hosts are numerous, but their primary role is one of ambassador from the city of Fairbanks and Alaska to make their assigned team's visit to the Top of the World Classic as enjoyable as possible.