KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament being just days away, tickets still remain for the big event.
The event normally sells out in advance but organizers said recent returns from Big 12 schools meant a few more empty seats this year.
“You’re looking at the most difficult ticket to purchase in college basketball normally at this time,” explained Kansas City Sports Commission President Kathy Nelson. “We’ve had Big 12 schools return tickets that they didn’t sell, so those tickets are for sale.”
Nelson told 41 Action News that part of the slow sale could be attributed to the close competition this year in the Big 12.
She said fans could be waiting to purchase tickets with many of the schools separated by only a few games in the standings.
“It’s anyone’s game,” she explained. “We normally don’t see that. Normally, there’s a pretty good divide.”
Nelson also pointed to a down season for Iowa State possibly leading to fewer fans coming to Kansas City, nicknamed “Hilton South” by the team’s faithful supporters.
Cyclones fans often pack Power & Light District before games and fill metro bars, like Kelly’s in Westport, for the event.
However, this year could be different with the team sitting in last place in the Big 12 standings.
“Iowa State travels so well,” Nelson explained. “When they’re ranked ten out of ten schools going into the championship, those people may not travel and that has a bit of an economic impact to us.”
Across the metro, Cyclones fans said they did not expect the team’s struggles to keep supporters away.
Kyle Flander, who attended Iowa State and now lives in Shawnee, plans to attend the tournament next week and doesn’t expect to be outnumbered.
“Even during a down year like this year, they (the team) still love us,” he explained. “They love the support.”
With Iowa State playing on Wednesday next week at the tournament, Flander said a Cyclones win would go a long way for bringing out supporters.
“If they get a win, more fans will come down,” he explained. “Even if they don’t get that, our fans will still come out.”
Tickets for the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament can be purchased at the Sprint Center's website and at the Sprint Center box office.
