Fox Sports has bought two college basketball tournaments "that are being staged" in Las Vegas during the holidays, according to Alan Snel of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. The net "has purchased" the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, which is scheduled for Nov. 26-27, and the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic, set for Dec. 22-23. Both events will be played at Orleans Arena. Fox Sports will not only "broadcast the basketball tournaments on FS1 but also handle team selection, ticket sales and sponsorships." The deal, which was first reported by SportsBusiness Journal in March, will see Fox "use its business relationships with college conferences and teams to attract future colleges to play in the tournaments." FS1 "broadcast the two tournaments" in '14 and the company "closed on the deal with Las Vegas Tournaments Inc. earlier this year to acquire the tourneys." Chris Spencer, who has "worked on organizing college basketball tournaments in Las Vegas, has stayed on to help Fox Sports run the events." Fox Sports USC Sports Properties VP & GM Dan Shell said, "It's a business we've never done before, so we will hire outside help. We hope to grow the ticket base." Snel notes Fox also inherits Continental Tire's deals, as the brand has "been the title sponsor for the past five years" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 11/18).
VEGAS VACATION: The AP's Sam Morris reported a new single-elimination college basketball tournament for 16 teams that do not make the NCAA Tournament "will be played" in Las Vegas in late March. Called "Vegas 16," the event "will be played" March 26-30 at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus. Marketing firm BD Global, which will manage the event, said that teams will be "housed at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip." There are "currently seven men's and women's conference tournaments played" in Las Vegas (AP, 11/17).
