Some fans of incoming Big 12 schools want basketball tournaments moved to Las Vegas
The Pac-12 Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are scheduled to take place March 6−9 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It could be the final conference tournaments as the Pac-12’s future is in doubt.
In 2025, four of those Pac-12 schools will play their conference tournament at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
The Big 12 Conference will add Arizona State, Arizona, Colorado and Utah for the 2024-25 school year. The men’s and women’s tournaments will feature 16 teams for the first time in conference history.
Those Big 12 basketball tournaments are scheduled to be played in Kansas City at least through 2027.
But some fans of incoming Big 12 schools think the men’s and women’s tournaments should then move to Las Vegas. They shared that thought on X (née Twitter) and as one might expect, it didn’t sit well with many people.
This is a bit of what was being shared on the social-media channel about the Big 12 basketball tournaments, and the perks of playing in Kansas City or Las Vegas.
I've been saying for months that whichever Pac-12 schools migrate to the Big 12, they should use it as leverage to insist that Las Vegas is at least in the rotation for the postseason tournaments. Not fair to only keep it in Missouri. Every fan base will travel to Las Vegas.
— Doug in Tucson (@DOUGINTUCSON) August 3, 2023
The entire downtown of Kansas City shuts down for the Big 12 tournament…. It’s borderline a holiday..
The Big 12 tournament in Vegas probably wouldn’t even be the biggest thing going on in town that week.. https://t.co/i8aQ8MMYQS— Price Carter (@ArrowheadPrice) August 6, 2023
Just got back from Vegas after 8 days of being there. The Big 12 tournament is great in KC. It needs to stay there.
— Otto (@Otto342) August 7, 2023
Hard pass. Read a little history about Phog Allen and the connection between him, KC and the NCAA tournament. No reason to move the conference tournament outside of the league's footprint.
— Doug (@FireChiefD) August 7, 2023
Anything in Vegas is "just another event" to the city. KC lives and breathes the Big12 basketball tourneys. And it's big enough there are still other things to do if you get bounced in the first round. Keep it in KC.
— John Bessman (@JohnBessman) August 8, 2023
So you want UCF and WVU fans to go to Vegas? Not happening. Kansas City is relatively central for the Big-12 and has been the home of the tournament for forever.
— KU Realist (@KURealist) August 7, 2023
Big 12 needs to move the conference tournament to Vegas. I'm going to triple down on this until it does.
— Corey #LLTJ #LLAL (@coreyc04) August 7, 2023
The Big 12’s next expansion target has to be Las Vegas. I don’t envision getting the CCG there every year, but the hoops tournament should be there every year. Let Kansas bitch about not having a de facto home court advantage in KC — we know what the rest of the league will say.
— Patrick Sheltra (@100ThingsUtah) August 5, 2023
The precedent was set when they tried this tourney in Dallas. Maybe see what it’s like in KC before speaking.
— Passiønate Fan (@tKCyclone) August 5, 2023
I've been there for ISU kicking the crap out of UNLV.
The feeling in KC is 100% different.
It is not a tourist trap.
The people in KC actually want fans there and care about the fans....and show it.
Unlike in Vegas.— Frederick (@ISUCYfred) August 9, 2023
Yeah I love KC, but I’m completely fine with at the very least rotating the tourney with Vegas every year or so. It’s okay to switch things up.
— Solar Power Enjoyer ️ (@ButHerIceCream) August 6, 2023
Kansas City is the epicenter of college basketball. Iowa State, Kstate and Kansas fans are the best fans out there. No way you move it.
— Austin Genova (@AustinGenovaksu) August 7, 2023
So true.. T Mobile is a blast!.. It would be EPIC with Big 12.. KC was fun..Been there..But as a U of A fan and having seen both.. its not even close..Vegas would be super cool.. KU, AZ, Baylor, Ok St and on and on.. Killer shows, parties.. nothing even close..
— Roger (@Bordercat1407) August 3, 2023
Big 12 Holiday Tournament in Vegas, Big 12 championship in KC!
— Butch Logan (@ButchLogan81818) August 3, 2023
KC/Vegas rotation would be a pretty good combo. Big 12 has one of the best tournament atmospheres. The Power and Light District is fun. Kansas and ISU take over similar to AZ in Vegas. Vegas is a great spot too. Different vibes.
— Kyle Bowlsby (@kbowlsby) August 3, 2023
