Big 12 announces two-year extension to keep basketball championships in Kansas City

The Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball championships are going to stay in Kansas City for a little while longer.

The league and the Kansas City Sports commission announced a two-year extension on Friday, keeping the tournaments in Kansas City through the 2027 season. Municipal Auditorium hosted the women’s tournament this past year and T-Mobile Arena served as the site of the men’s basketball tournament.

“Kansas City has been a valued partner, showcasing a true dedication to making these tournaments the best postseason basketball event in the country,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “As we prepare to welcome four new schools in the coming years, I’m confident Kansas City will continue to deliver a first-class Championship experience for our athletes, administrators, fans and partners.”

The Big 12 men’s basketball tournament moved to Kansas City full-time in 2010 at the Sprint Center. T-Mobile Arena became the host site in 2021 after the 2020 tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before 2010, the league split between Dallas, Oklahoma City and Kansas City before settling on KC as the lone site.

“Kansas City’s long affiliation with the Big 12 Conference entered an exciting new chapter in 2020 when we welcomed the women’s tournament back to Kansas City,” said Kathy Nelson, President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC, in a statement. “Our city’s passion for basketball is on full display during the Big 12 Basketball Championships and we could not be more excited to continue our tradition of excellence when hosting these tournaments.”

Kansas defeated Texas Tech in this year’s Big 12 tournament championship game to punch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks rattled off quite a run in the tournament and eventually defeated North Carolina to win the national championship.

The Big 12 women’s basketball tournament had its highest number of attendees since 2013, according to the press release. On the men’s side, the tournament averaged more than 18,000 fans over the last two years at T-Mobile Arena.