Big West Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Moves To Honda Center
"The Madness Begins In Anaheim"

 

The Big West Conference and Honda Center have formed a five-year partnership to host the conference's annual men’s and women’s post-season basketball tournament beginning in 2011.

"The Big West Conference is delighted to continue its long-term relationship with the city of Anaheim and keep its signature event in the center of the conference's geographic footprint,” said Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell. “The Big West and Honda Center have developed a strong relationship over the years, and this is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to play in a building that has hosted five NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship preliminary round events over the last decade."

The Big West and Honda Center have teamed up for March Madness and The Road To The Final Four on numerous occasions, including mens basketball regionals in 1998, 2001 and 2003 and first and second round action in 2008. In addition, the Big West and Honda Center were selected as host of the 2011 NCAA Division I Mens Basketball West Regional.

“This is exciting news both for our venue and Southern California sports fans,” said Tim Ryan, President/CEO of Honda Center. “The Big West Tournament is annually one of the marquee collegiate sporting events in the region and we’re looking forward to helping push it to new heights.”

The Big West Tournament is the oldest NCAA Division I post-season basketball tournament in the west, dating back to 1976 when the conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.  Over the years it has been staged in Stockton, CA (1976); Inglewood, CA (1983-88); Long Beach, CA (1989-93); Las Vegas, NV (1994-95); Reno, NV (1996-2000); and twice at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena (1977-82 and 2001-2010).

Anaheim is one of the nation’s premier municipalities and is California’s 10th most populous city. In addition to successful sports franchises, including Angels Baseball and the NHL’s Ducks, Anaheim hosts more than 20 million visitors each year, making it the place the world calls home.