The Big 12 Conference and the Tulsa Sports Commission have announced that the Big 12 Wrestling Championship will remain at Tulsa’s BOK Center through 2028.
Tulsa has hosted the tournament since 2017. The 2024 Big 12 Wrestling Championship is scheduled for March 9–10 and will be the eighth consecutive championship at the site.
“Hosting the Big 12 Wrestling Championship for the last seven years has not only further developed the sport of wrestling in our state, but has helped establish Tulsa as a destination that consistently and successfully hosts major sporting events,” said Joel Koester, director of sports sales for the Tulsa Sports Commission. “We look forward to another fantastic event next month and our continued partnership for the years to come.”
The Big 12’s wrestling lineup is not the same as the well-known lineup of member schools. Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia are the only member schools that have men’s wrestling with Air Force, California Baptist, Missouri, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley and Wyoming as affiliate members. Entering the weekend, Oklahoma State is ranked No. 4 in the country with Iowa State at No. 5 and Missouri at No. 10.
Oklahoma is leaving the Big 12 after this season for the SEC, which Missouri is already a member of except for wrestling. The Big 12 will welcome four new schools next season with Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah but only Arizona State has a wrestling program.
“We’ve had a great experience with the Tulsa Sports Commission and the atmosphere at the BOK Center is what has helped us build the championship to what it is today,” said Big 12 Vice President for Women’s Basketball and Competition Dayna Scherf. “This partnership solidifies our commitment to the sport and we are excited to continue to grow our championship for the passionate market that has supported us here for the last seven years.”
The Big 12 has made a series of long-term scheduling commitments for multiple conference championships over the past year. The men’s basketball tournament has been in Kansas City since 2010 and with a recent extension, it will remain there until at least 2027. The women’s tournament returned to the area in 2020 and also is extended until 2027. The league also extended its agreement to host its football championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, through 2030.