KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Big 12 tournament has decided to stay in Kansas City awhile longer. The Phillips 66 men's and women's basketball championships will be held at the Sprint Center through 2024.
Kansas City was the first to host both the men's and women's championships in the first six years of the conference. It started at Kemper Arena before moving to the Sprint Center in 2008. The men's post-season has continued at the Sprint Center since 2010. In 2020, Municipal Auditorium will welcome back the women's tournament.
With the men's games alone, in 2017, Kansas City welcomed around 18,000 fans.
Businesses in the downtown area, including Homeslice Pizza and Pints, will feel the impact. The restaurant manager, Josie Hunter said the restaurant gets packed. It opened in April 2017, since then they've seen big business.
"It's great, we get super busy during events at the Sprint Center," said Hunter.
Kansas City has plenty to offer but the Kansas City Sports Commission said the city has to prove itself every year.
"When you think Kansas City, central of the country, and you think about our fan base here and how easy it is to get here. Then you add in Power and Light District, walkability from hotels, you add in the streetcar and the venue, I mean it doesn't really get any better," said Kathy Nelson, President and CEO, Kansas City Sports Commission.
Come 2020, it will be the eleventh consecutive year that the men's Big 12 Tournament has been held in Kansas City.
