Helena Frye
The Big Ten basketball tournament is usually held in either Chicago or Indianapolis, but in 2017, it was held in Washington D.C. at the Verizon Center. This was a strategic move by the Big Ten commissioner, Jim Delany, to send a message about the conference's expansion. The decision to host the tournament in a city with a large alumni base, such as Washington D.C., highlighted the inclusion of Maryland, Rutgers, and the capture of major Mid-Atlantic television markets. While the tournament typically takes place in the Midwest, this change of venue brought the action closer to the fans and created a unique opportunity for the teams and their supporters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Tournament location | Downtown Washington D.C. at the Verizon Center |
| Previous locations | Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Future locations | Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Las Vegas, Nevada; Detroit, Michigan |
| Reason for location change | Addition of Maryland, Rutgers, and the Mid-Atlantic television markets |
| Number of Big Ten alumni in the Washington area | 250,000 |
| Number of Big Ten alumni in Baltimore | 100,000 |
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What You'll Learn
The Big Ten tournament is usually held in Chicago or Indianapolis
The Big Ten tournament is primarily held in either Chicago or Indianapolis. These two cities have historically traded off turns as the home of the tournament. The United Center in Chicago, which serves as the home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, has a seating capacity of 20,917, making it the largest basketball arena used for the tournament. The tournament was held at the United Center in 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2017.
The other primary venue for the tournament is the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, previously known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Conseco Fieldhouse. The tournament was held here in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019, and 2021. The Gainbridge Fieldhouse will also host the tournament in 2025 and 2027.
In recent years, the tournament has expanded to other cities. It was held at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., in 2017, and at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2018. Minneapolis hosted the tournament for the first time in 2024, and it will be held in Las Vegas and Detroit in 2028.
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In 2017, the tournament was held in Washington D.C
In 2017, the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament was held in Washington D.C. at the Verizon Center. This marked a departure from the tournament's usual locations in Chicago or Indianapolis. The decision to host the tournament in Washington D.C. was likely influenced by the addition of Maryland, Rutgers, and the Mid-Atlantic television markets to the Big Ten conference.
The 2017 tournament was notable as it was the 20th edition of the tournament, and it was expected to create a pro-Maryland environment, especially if the Terrapins advanced to the weekend rounds. Maryland had sold out its allotment of 750 tickets and requested more, indicating strong local interest.
Approximately 250,000 Big Ten alumni live in the Washington area, and nearly another 100,000 live in Baltimore, according to Jim Delany, the Big Ten commissioner. While Delany did not expect a sell-out crowd, he believed the tournament would send a message that the Big Ten is "not just visiting" the East Coast.
The 2017 tournament also stood out as Michigan, a No. 8 seed, won the championship, becoming the lowest seed to ever win the tournament. Michigan's victory marked their second consecutive championship, having also won in 2018.
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The tournament is usually played at neutral sites
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament is usually played at neutral sites. The first four tournaments were held at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. From 2002 onwards, the tournament alternated between the United Center and Conseco Fieldhouse (later known as Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and now as Gainbridge Fieldhouse) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 2008, the tournament began a five-year stay in Indianapolis. On June 5, 2011, the Big Ten announced that the tournament would revert to alternating between Indianapolis and Chicago. The 2013 and 2015 tournaments were played in Chicago, while the 2014 and 2016 tournaments took place in Indianapolis.
The 2019-2022 tournaments continued the tradition of alternating between these two cities, with the exception of the 2021 tournament, which was moved to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis due to health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament returned to Chicago in 2023, with Minneapolis hosting for the first time in 2024.
While the tournament typically takes place in either Chicago or Indianapolis, it has occasionally been held in other cities. In 2017, the tournament was played in Washington, D.C., at the Verizon Center. This was a departure from the usual locations, as it was the first time the tournament was held in a city other than Chicago or Indianapolis. The decision to host the tournament in Washington, D.C., was driven by the expansion of the Big Ten Conference to include Maryland and Rutgers, allowing the conference to tap into the large alumni bases and major Mid-Atlantic television markets in the region.
The choice of neutral sites as venues for the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament aims to provide a fair playing field for all participating teams and prevent any home-court advantage.
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Maryland fans had to travel to the Midwest for previous tournaments
The Big Ten basketball tournament has traditionally been held in the Midwest, with Chicago and Indianapolis alternating as hosts. The only arenas that had hosted the tournament before 2017 were the United Center in Chicago and Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
However, in 2017, the tournament was held in downtown Washington, D.C., at the Verizon Center. This move was intended to send a message about the inclusion of Maryland, Rutgers, and the significant Mid-Atlantic television markets they brought to the conference.
Prior to the 2017 tournament, Maryland fans had to travel long distances to the Midwest, specifically Chicago and Indianapolis, to attend the tournament and support their team. This posed challenges in terms of travel costs and time, as well as creating a more neutral environment for the competing teams.
By choosing Washington, D.C., as the host city, the Big Ten Conference acknowledged the large alumni base in the area, with approximately 250,000 alumni in Washington and nearly 100,000 in Baltimore. This decision was made to cater to the fans and create a more advantageous environment for the Maryland team, as they had a stronger local fan base in the area compared to previous locations.
While there were concerns about sellouts and creating a pro-Maryland environment, the conference recognized the benefits of bringing the tournament to a new location and reaching a wider audience.
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The Big Ten tournament has been held annually since 1998
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament has been held annually since 1998, with the exception of the 2021 edition, which was moved from Chicago to Indianapolis due to health and safety protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament features teams from the Big Ten Conference, which is comprised of 14 universities primarily located in the Midwest and includes some of the most prestigious and well-known college basketball programs in the country.
The tournament has traditionally been held at neutral sites, with the first four tournaments taking place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Beginning in 2002, the tournament alternated between the United Center and Conseco Fieldhouse (later renamed Bankers Life Fieldhouse and now known as Gainbridge Fieldhouse) in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 2008, the tournament began a five-year stay in Indianapolis, with the exception of the 2013 and 2015 tournaments, which were played in Chicago.
In recent years, the tournament has continued to alternate between Chicago and Indianapolis, with the 2022 tournament taking place at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as planned before returning to Chicago in 2023. The Big Ten has also announced tournament locations through 2028, with the event slated to be held in cities such as Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and Detroit for the first time.
The choice of location for the Big Ten Tournament is influenced by various factors, including the desire to tap into new markets and expand the conference's reach. For example, the addition of universities like Maryland and Rutgers brought with them major Mid-Atlantic television markets, which the conference sought to capitalize on by holding the tournament in Washington, D.C., in 2017. While the tournament typically takes place in the Midwest, the selection of venues aims to balance the benefits for all participating teams and their fans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Ten Basketball Tournament was held in DC in 2017 to underline a message sent three years prior when the conference expanded to include Maryland, Rutgers, and the major Mid-Atlantic television markets that came with them.
The tournament is usually held at either the United Center in Chicago or Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The tournament locations from 2025 to 2028 are Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, the United Center in Chicago, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Yes, in 2017 the tournament was held in downtown Washington, DC, at the Verizon Center.
The tournament is held annually.
