Big 12 does not have insurance for limited fan access at its tournamentsGETTY IMAGES
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the conference will see a "substantial loss of revenue" from keeping fans from the conference tournaments, noting it was a "painful" decision to make, according to Drew Davison of the Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM. The Big 12 does "not have insurance for limited fan access at tournaments." Bowlsby said, "It's just about impossible to insure against this." Davison notes fans were "allowed to attend" last night's session that featured match-ups between Iowa State-Oklahoma State and TCU-Kansas State. Bowlsby said that limiting access yesterday was "considered, but he felt it could've created more problems given how little notice the league would have given fans." Bowlsby said that the conference "will go through a refund process for fans who purchased tickets to games" (Ft. Worth STAR-TELEGRAM, 3/12). Bowlsby said that the Big 12 is "currently assessing the conference spring sports calendar and championship events" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/12).
ACC: In Greensboro, Ed Hardin notes as for the ACC tournaments, it is "not clear how fans might be reimbursed for tickets to games they weren't permitted to attend and whether the ACC has insurance to cover losses related to such an unusual development" (Greensboro NEWS & RECORD, 3/12). Meanwhile, SI.com's Greg Arias noted for the SEC Tournament, "automatic refunds of ticket purchases will be made to fans who are the original purchaser of the tickets from SEC office or an SEC university, or a verified purchaser on the SEC Ticket Exchange powered by Ticketmaster" (SI.com, 3/11).
