NEW YORK – The Big East Tournament will be held at Madison Square Garden until at least 2032, ensuring that one of the most famous and famous events in college basketball will take place in “The World’s Most Famous Arena” for 50 consecutive years .
The league is the arena announced a contract extension Friday during a press conference at MSG before the Big East semifinals. His current deal is set to expire in 2028.
“I am very happy to announce that we have renewed our votes,” said Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman. “Hopefully, many more birthdays.”
After playing in three different venues during the Big East’s first three seasons, the conference has held its postseason showcase just off Broadway in Midtown Manhattan annually since 1983. This makes it the longest postseason championship in college basketball held in a place
“Trust me, it’s going to be over 50 years,” said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Marquee Events and Operations, MSG Entertainment. “It just gets better and better every year. And we didn’t think it could.”
Even with the league’s reconfiguration in 2013 to include Midwestern schools like Creighton, Marquette and Xavier, college basketball fans continue to flock to MSG in March. Last year’s Big East Tournament was a sellout, with 19,812 fans filling The Garden for all five sessions.
“This event, a New York City staple, has long been synonymous with tradition, rivalry and heartwarming moments,” Ackerman said in a statement, calling the league’s partnership with MSG “one of the most enduring alliances in the world sport”.
Fisher said, “The rich tradition of the Big East Tournament has produced many of the Garden’s most celebrated college basketball moments and has cemented itself as one of the most anticipated annual events.”
