Ayrton Oneill
The Horizon League is a collegiate athletic conference that has been sending teams to the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments since 1980. The Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament is held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Horizon League has produced several Sweet 16 teams, including Loyola in 1985, Xavier in 1990, and Butler in 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2011. The league has also had success in the women's tournament, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Division I tournament in 1991. The Horizon League's tournaments have been sponsored by Speedway SuperAmerica since 2009 and have been streamed on ESPN platforms since 2014, with select games airing on ESPN2 and ESPNU.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Conference tournament | Held annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season |
| Tournament frequency | Every year since 1980 |
| Winner's title | Horizon League tournament champion |
| Winner's bid | Receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament |
| Sponsorship | Speedway SuperAmerica, a major gas and convenience store chain |
| Tournament location (2016-2019) | Detroit |
| Tournament location (2020-2022) | Indianapolis |
| Number of qualifiers to the Men's NCAA basketball tournament | 24 |
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What You'll Learn
The Horizon League tournament structure
The Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament takes place annually at the end of the men's college basketball regular season. The tournament has been played each year since 1980. The winner of the tournament becomes the Horizon League tournament champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Through 2002, the entire tournament was hosted at a single venue. From 2003 to 2015, all first-round matches were played at the home court of the higher-seeded team. The hosting rights for the quarterfinals and semifinals were awarded to the winner of the regular-season championship. The championship game was then played at the home arena of the higher remaining seed. This format rewarded the regular-season champion and runner-up with a double-bye into the semifinals.
Beginning in 2009, the Horizon League secured entitlement sponsorship for its men's and women's basketball tournaments with Speedway SuperAmerica, a major gas and convenience store chain throughout the Midwest US. The tournaments were officially named "The Speedway Horizon League Men's/Women's Basketball Championship".
From 2016 to 2019, the Horizon League tournament was held in Detroit under a five-year deal, starting at Joe Louis Arena. The women's tournament was added in 2017, with both events marketed under the title Motor City Madness. The tournament moved to the newly opened Little Caesars Arena in 2018. However, the contract with Detroit was ended a year early, and the league reopened bidding for the 2018–19 season.
The Horizon League has produced some impressive results in the NCAA tournament. Four schools from the conference have made "modern-day" Sweet 16 appearances: Loyola (1985), Xavier (1990), Butler (2003, 2007, 2010, and 2011), and Milwaukee (2005). The Horizon League compiled a 19–12 record in the NCAA tournament from 2003 to 2011, ranking first among all 32 NCAA Division I conferences for winning percentage (.613) in March Madness during that span.
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Horizon League's NCAA tournament performance
The Horizon League has a strong history of performance in the NCAA Tournament, with four schools from the conference having made the Sweet 16 in recent memory: Loyola in 1985, Xavier in 1990, and Butler on four occasions (2003, 2007, 2010, and 2011). Notably, Butler reached the men's national championship game in both 2010 and 2011. Milwaukee also made a surprise run to the Sweet 16 in 2005, beating Alabama and Boston College before falling to the top-ranked team.
From 2003 to 2011, the Horizon League compiled an impressive 19–12 record in the NCAA tournament, ranking first among all 32 NCAA Division I conferences for winning percentage (.613) during that period. This success was largely driven by Butler's 15 tournament wins, with Milwaukee and Cleveland State contributing 3 and 1 wins, respectively.
The Horizon League has also sent a significant number of qualifiers to the Men's NCAA basketball tournament, with 24 qualifiers (including 7 At-Large berths) between 1995 and 2011, showcasing the depth and competitiveness of the conference.
In terms of tournament bids, the Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament is held annually, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament. The women's tournament has also gained prominence, with an automatic berth to the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship as of 1992. Sponsorship deals with Speedway SuperAmerica and ESPN have further elevated the profile of the Horizon League tournaments.
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Sponsorship deals
Beginning in 2009, the Horizon League entered into a significant entitlement sponsorship agreement with Speedway SuperAmerica for its men's and women's basketball tournaments. This sponsorship deal led to the official renaming of the tournaments to "The Speedway Horizon League Men's/Women's Basketball Championship." The partnership with Speedway SuperAmerica elevated the profile of the tournaments and attracted additional attention and interest from basketball fans and enthusiasts across the Midwest.
The Horizon League has also explored educational partnerships to enhance its basketball tournaments. In collaboration with IUPUI (Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis), the league has integrated its tournaments into the university's sports management curriculum. IUPUI students gain invaluable real-world experience by actively participating in marketing, promotion, and sales efforts for the Horizon League tournaments. This partnership provides a unique educational opportunity for students aspiring to work in the sports industry, allowing them to apply their classroom knowledge in a practical setting.
Additionally, the Horizon League has benefited from media and broadcasting sponsorships. In 2014, the Horizon League Network migrated to ESPN3, expanding the reach of its live-streamed events. This evolution continued with the integration of Horizon League coverage into ESPN+ in 2018, ensuring a broader audience for the league's basketball games. The league further extended its partnership with ESPN in 2021, solidifying its presence on platforms like ESPN2, ESPNU, and national linear television channels. Regional sports networks, including WMYD Detroit, Marquee Sports Network, and Bally Sports, also contribute to broadcasting deals, ensuring maximum exposure for Horizon League basketball.
The Horizon League's proactive approach to securing sponsorship deals has positively impacted its basketball tournaments. Through partnerships with companies like Speedway SuperAmerica and educational institutions like IUPUI, along with broadcasting agreements, the league has elevated the visibility and excitement surrounding its basketball competitions, ultimately benefiting the participating teams, students, and fans alike.
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Broadcasting rights
The allocation of broadcasting rights typically begins with an auction, where broadcasters submit bids based on their valuation of the competition's popularity in their respective markets. UEFA, for example, invites broadcasters to bid for the rights to air matches across different regions every three years, coinciding with the tournament cycle. This process ensures a fair and transparent bidding process, allowing both traditional networks and digital platforms to compete.
In the context of the Horizon League, the league's network migrated to ESPN3 in 2014, and over 700 events were streamed live in 2015-16. Horizon League coverage was later absorbed into ESPN+, along with other mid-major conferences, in 2018. The league extended its deal with ESPN in 2021, and over 500 events are now aired on ESPN+ annually. Select men's basketball games are also broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU, while the men's and women's basketball championships are aired on ESPN and ESPNU.
The broadcasting rights landscape is evolving with the growth of digital platforms and streaming services. Companies like streaming services and social media networks have entered the market, offering innovative ways to watch live sports and appealing to audiences who prefer consuming content on digital devices. Sports organisations, such as UEFA, have embraced this trend by partnering with digital broadcasters to ensure their content remains accessible to a technologically evolving fan base.
In the UK, the Premier League also auctions off broadcasting rights for their matches. Sky, BT, and Amazon are among the broadcasters that bid for these rights. The revenue generated from these rights is distributed among the Premier League clubs, with 50% divided equally, 25% awarded based on merit, and the remaining 25% as a facilities fee for televised matches.
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Horizon League's March Madness appearances
The Horizon League has a rich history of appearances in March Madness, the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament. The Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament has been played annually since 1980, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, offering a chance to compete in March Madness.
The Horizon League has sent multiple teams to the NCAA Tournament over the years, with notable success. In the 2003 NCAA Tournament, the Horizon League entered two teams: Milwaukee and Butler. Milwaukee earned its first bid to the tournament, while Butler made its fifth appearance in seven years. Both teams achieved impressive results, with Milwaukee reaching the Sweet 16.
Butler University, a consistent performer in the Horizon League, has made multiple Sweet 16 appearances (2003, 2007, 2010, and 2011) and appeared in the men's national championship game in 2010 and 2011. In 2008, Butler beat South Alabama in the NCAA Tournament before falling to Tennessee in overtime.
Other Horizon League schools have also made their mark in March Madness. Loyola reached the Sweet 16 in 1985, achieving the best seed for a Horizon League team since the NCAA began seeding in 1979. Xavier (1990) and Milwaukee (2005) have also reached the Sweet 16, showcasing the depth of talent within the Horizon League.
In recent years, the Robert Morris University (RMU) men's basketball team won the Horizon League Tournament in 2024, clinching their first Horizon League championship and earning an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in ten years. This victory showcased the competitive nature of the Horizon League and the opportunity it provides for teams to reach March Madness.
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Frequently asked questions
The Horizon League is a conference in the NCAA Division I men's and women's basketball tournaments.
The Horizon League men's basketball conference tournament is held annually at the end of the regular season. The winner of the tournament is designated the Horizon League tournament champion and receives an automatic bid to the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
Similar to the men's tournament, the Horizon League women's basketball conference tournament is also held annually. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA women's basketball tournament.
Four schools from the Horizon League have made it to the Sweet 16 in recent years: Loyola (1985), Xavier (1990), Butler (2003, 2007, 2010, 2011), and Milwaukee (2005). Butler also appeared in the men's national championship game in 2010 and 2011.
Horizon League basketball games are primarily aired on ESPN and its affiliated channels, including ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+. Regional sports networks and over-the-air channels within the teams' home markets also televise select games.
