![]() The pieces can fall, but we must find a place to put them. “We have to manage the schedule, of course, and there have to be windows whether it’s the Amway Center, Camping World Stadium or any other of the 40 venues we work on behalf of,” said Siegel. ![]() While the Big 12 basketball tournament may be off the table, that doesn’t mean that Orlando won’t be aggressive with conference championships in other sports. The Kansas City Sports Commission estimates the economic impact of the men’s and women’s championships was $21 million. The Big 12 announced Tuesday that its conference basketball championship was the highest-grossing in conference history.Īttendance for the men’s tournament increased nearly 13% from last season, averaging 18,022 fans per session, while the women’s tournament increased by 24% with an average of 5,077 fans. “From what I’ve seen and from the people I’ve spoken to, it’s a great fit for our conference.”Īnd the numbers seem to support Yormark’s assessment. “This is my first experience, and I’ve heard wonderful things about the fan support, the community, the engagement, and how they rally around this tournament. “I haven’t considered moving this tournament,” Yormark told reporters last week. Kansas City is set to remain host through the 2027 season and all indications are new Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark isn’t in a hurry to relocate the event. It produces a lot of money and has a great flavor for basketball.” “It’s not that I wouldn’t advocate if they decided to move it, but I don’t think they want to move it right now. Our fans are going to absolutely love it. They’ve tried to move it before to Texas and it hasn’t done as well. “It’s the best basketball tournament in America, and I can tell you it’s second to none and it’s been there for many, many years. “It needs to stay in Kansas City,” he said. The former Amway Arena and current Amway Center have hosted several conference basketball tournaments (SEC, AAC) along with previous first- and second-round NCAA games. Outside of Texas (2003-04, 2006) and Oklahoma (2007, 2009), it’s been the primary home for the men’s and women’s tournaments.Īs Orlando expands its reputation as a sports tourist destination by hosting the NCAA Tournament’s first and second rounds Thursday and Saturday at Amway Center, area officials continue to pursue high-profile events. Kansas City had hosted the Big 12 basketball championships for 13 consecutive seasons (minus the 2020 season when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and 21 years combined. “It’s the best basketball conference in the United States by far, bar none,” Mohajir said a few days after returning to Orlando. They witnessed first hand what the Knights can expect when officially joining the league July 1. UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir and members of his staff traveled to Kansas City to take in the Big 12 men’s basketball championship last week.
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