Kansas basketball: Losing the Big 12 Tourney will hurt the Jayhawks and Kansas City

Since I was in junior high, one of my favorite memories has been watching Kansas basketball at the annual Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament in Kansas City, Mo.

Now, it seems that very tourney could be in serious jeopardy with the planned departures of conference charter members Oklahoma and Texas.

The tourney has seen many homes over the years. From Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City, Mo., the event has always been a major draw for local fans and helped stimulate March Madness fever just before “the big dance”.

Considering Kansas makes the jump to a conference such as the Big Ten, that local appeal goes out the window. Trading in Kansas City, Mo. for Indianapolis, Jayhawk fans will be making a long trip to support their team.

Having the close-to-home tourney site has always been a major advantage for Kansas, however, it seems those days are numbered.

The 2021 Big 12 tourney probably won’t be the last, however, it may be one of the final few tournaments including Oklahoma and Texas. These tickets will be high-priced and tough to come by.

While Oklahoma and Texas’ media contracts expire in 2025, there’s a decent chance they’ll find a way out before then. Buying their way out of the conference may seem like a stretch, but depending on how many bridges they burn within the coming months, who’s to say?

When the bags are packed…

The T-Mobile Center (formerly Sprint Center) in Kansas City, Mo. has hosted the annual Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament since 2010, and giving up this major event will hurt the local economy surrounding the venue.

The arena is not home to another college/professional basketball tenant, despite having hosted NBA and NHL preseason games. Kansas and Kansas State have hosted one-time game events at the site, often being played once each year.

If the Big 12 ceases to exist, this would eliminate the tournament and would create a massive gap in the arena’s annual revenue stream. The Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament is also played in Kansas City, Mo. at Municipal Auditorium, which currently hosts the Summit League’s Kansas City Roos.

With the remaining members tasked with either salvaging the conference or jumping ship, the latter is the most likely. As a result, it will have a lasting effect on its members and fanbase.

Losing the Big 12 spells uncertainty for the Kansas City area, which has attracted a strong fan turnout from schools each year for the annual tournament Without it, it could be a tough road ahead for both the T-Mobile Center and misplaced fans.