A vote by Conference USA ADs later this month "will decide" whether the '18 men's and women's basketball tournaments will be played at the The Star in Frisco, according to Ed Miller of the Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT. Sources said that Birmingham (UAB) and El Paso (UTEP) -- the last two cities to host the tournament -- "have also submitted bids." Birmingham has "hosted the past three tournaments," while El Paso last hosted in '14. One advocate for the bid said that what the Cowboys' Frisco facility lacks in proximity, it "makes up for in novelty and in 'wow' factor." It is an "outside-the-box option for a conference trying to create excitement surrounding its tournaments." Both UAB and UTEP "used separate arenas for the men’s and women’s games through the first two rounds." But a source said that The Star in Frisco "could be configured to put two courts on the playing field." An announcement "could be made before the conference’s spring meetings in Destin, Fla., on May 22-24." It is "unclear whether the conference will award bids" for just '18 or additional years (Norfolk VIRGINIAN-PILOT, 5/6). In Texas, Brett Vito noted Frisco is "attempting to bring more collegiate events to the city," and moving the C-USA tourney to a tourism destination "could bolster attendance" (DENTON RECORD-CHRONICLE, 5/7).
