Big 12 and Kansas City discussing an extension to keep basketball tournaments in KC past 2027

The Big 12 basketball tournaments appear to be locked into Kansas City for the foreseeable future.

The current deal between the league and city locks the tournament in place through 2026-27, but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said there are discussions underway to extend that agreement.

“[The 2023 Tournament] was my first time spending significant time in Kansas City,” Yormark said Wednesday during his annual press conference at Big 12 Football Media Days. “I went there with lots of different thoughts. Came away hugely impressed. We don’t have to share our voice in a market like Kansas City during our basketball championship. If you look at some of the other markets, there’s multiple conference championships going on at the same time. The fan base in and around Kansas City, they really embrace this tournament.”

Kansas City has hosted the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament every year since 2010. During that stretch, Iowa State has won the event four times, second only to Kansas for the most in the league.

The women’s basketball tournament has been back in Kansas City each of the last three years at Municipal Auditorium, running at the same time as the men’s event, but will move to T-Mobile Arena the week before the men’s tournament starting in 2024.

“Next year, our women’s tournament moves to T-Mobile, which we’re extremely excited about,” Yormark said. “When I think about Kansas City now, I think about that market and that championship is one that I’d like to double down on. We’re in conversations with local officials about extending that agreement, as well.”

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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