Big Ten in talks to move tournament to New York or New Jersey
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany told reporters Thursday that the conference is in discussions to move its tournament to New York or New Jersey at some point in the future.
The 2014 men's basketball tournament was held in Indianapolis, where it will return in 2014. The 2015 tournament is slated for the United Center in Chicago.
The tournament will move to the Verizon Center, home of the NBA's Washington Wizards, in Washington, DC, in 2017.
• HAMILTON: Big Ten basketball tournament keeps Chicago, Indianapolis rotation
The location of the 2018 tournament remains undecided. The Chicago Tribunereported in July that Delany was targeting Madison Square Garden and had met with officials from the venue on June 4 in New York.
The move to Washington, DC, and potential move to New York, would complement the addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the league. Both schools joined the conference on July 1.
Delany, in his 26th year as league commissioner, would have to get the approval of Big Ten-member presidents and chancellors.
Madison Square Garden is contracted to hold the Big East basketball tournament through 2026, likely meaning that the Big Ten would need to be willing to adjust the scheduling of its tournament, as well.
• Big Ten announces conference schedule, tournament format
Regarding the change from the Chicago-Indianapolis rotation, the Tribune reported Delany as saying "...[we] are a two-region conference. We have more than two great cities for basketball..."
Delany also told reporters in May that playing games on the east coast was central to expanding the league's national presence. "You can beam a TV signal into the east...but you need to be here, too. You need boots on the ground."
The women's basketball tournament will be held in Hoffman Estates, Illinois in 2015, before shifting to Indianapolis for 2016 through 2022.
- Christopher Woody
