Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott on Friday announced an “agreement in principle” has been reached on a one-year extension to bring the conference tournament back to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, according to Dirk Facer of the DESERET NEWS. After that, it is anticipated that the Pac-12 tourney "will move into" the city's new MGM/AEG arena. Meanwhile, Scott said that the decision to move the tournament from L.A. to Las Vegas in '13 "has proven to be a success." Scott: “I think it’s fair to say that the event has exceeded any of our expectations" (DESERET NEWS, 3/14). In Las Vegas, Steve Carp noted a "sellout crowd of 12,916" attended Saturday's Arizona-Oregon Pac-12 title game (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/15). In Tucson, Greg Hansen noted the MGM/AEG venue is "a half-mile as the crow flies" from the MGM Grand Garden, but the new 20,000-seat venue "hopes to draw an NHL team as a tenant." So it "might be better to retain the intimacy of the MGM Grand" for the Pac-12, than to "risk an attempt to sell 7,000 more seats per game." L.A.'s Staples Center, at 18,118 capacity, "was simply too big," which is "one of the reasons the league tournament failed" when it was there. It was a "dreadful place for a conference tournament because there was no central gathering place." There was "no 'feel' and no buzz." It was "too expensive, too hard to get to, too sterile," but that "all changed" when the Pac-12 moved to MGM Grand. The new Las Vegas Arena "will cost" about $400M, and it "will be a thing of beauty." Hansen: "I hope the Pac-12 isn’t seduced by its size and the new car smell" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 3/15).
WE'LL BE BACK: In Greensboro, Jeff Mills noted the ACC Tournament "hits the road" over the next four years, with stops in DC, Brooklyn (twice) and Charlotte. Mills: "Chances are, 2020 at the Greensboro Coliseum will feel like a homecoming. Because this city embraces this tournament like no place else." ACC Commissioner John Swofford said, "What's unique is the level of volunteerism here, the level of hospitality -- both to the fans and to the schools. To me that's what separates Greensboro." Mills noted as the men's event "goes away the next four years, the volunteer network will remain busy working other events under the Tournament Town banner." It is a network "that's been called on for figure skating and gymnasitcs, swimming and soccer, golf and basketball." But "at its core is ACC men's baksetball" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 3/15). Also in Greensboro, Susan Ladd noted many fans "said they won’t travel to the tournament when it heads" to DC next year. For many fans, especially North Carolinians, "this was the last tournament they’ll attend" until it returns to Charlotte in '19 and Greensboro in '20 (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 3/16). The NEWS & RECORD's Ed Hardin wrote under the header, "Greensboro Best Place For ACC Tournament" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 3/15).
TOURNAMENT ROUNDUP: In Las Vegas, Matt Youmans noted Saturday's Wyoming-San Diego State Mountain West Conference title game drew 10,002 fans to Thomas & Mack Center (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/15). Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Mark Gaughan noted Saturday's Buffalo-Central Michigan MAC title game drew "a crowd of 5,266" to Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/15).
