Big Ten Keeps Football Title Game in Indianapolis, Bringing Basketball Tournaments to Minneapolis
Target Center will host women's basketball in 2023, both men's and women's basketball in 2024
Posted On: April 20, 2022 By :The Big Ten Conference will keep its football championshig pame at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis through 2024 while also announcing that its 2023 women’s basketball tournament, plus the 2024 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, will be heading to the Target Center in Minneapolis, which recently hosted the Women’s Final Four.
“We are thrilled to bring marquee conference events such as the Big Ten Football Championship Game and the Big Ten Basketball Tournaments to world-class cities and venues within the conference footprint,” said Big Ten Conference Commissioner Kevin Warren. “Indianapolis and Minneapolis each have a strong history and tradition of hosting some of the world’s premier events in cities that feature an exceptional base of Big Ten Conference alumni and fans. We look forward to creating new memories and experiences for our student-athletes, coaches, and member institutions, further expanding our fanbase, cultivating relationships with the business community, and fostering a positive and lasting impact on these cities.”
Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium has hosted the football championship game since its inception in 2011. A record 67,183 fans attended the 2021 title game in which Michigan beat Iowa, which marked the third-largest football crowd in building history behind only Super Bowl XLVI and the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship.
“Indiana Sports Corp and its partners are thrilled with the decision made by the Big Ten member institutions to return the Big Ten Football Championship Game in 2023 and 2024,” said Indiana Sports Corp President Ryan Vaughn. “After hosting the annual Championship Game for the past 11 years, we believe our city has delivered a top-tier experience on all levels for the student-athletes, coaches, fans, and our community. We look forward to continuing this long-standing partnership and creating community impact through this event for years to come.”
The 2023 women’s basketball tournament will be the first the conference holds outside of Indianapolis since 2015. The 2023 men’s tournament had previously been announced as heading to the United Center in Chicago ahead of 2024 in Minneapolis. The men’s tournament has been held in four different cities over the past six seasons, including Washington, D.C. (2017), New York City (2018), Chicago (2019) and Indianapolis (2020–2022).
“We are proud to carry the tradition of Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball excellence to Minneapolis,” said Minnesota Sports and Events Chief Executive Officer Wendy Blackshaw. “After this year’s sold-out NCAA Women’s Final Four, hosting the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament in 2023, and the Big Ten men’s and women’s tournaments in 2024 will continue to fuel Minnesota’s reputation as a true basketball state. With our terrific partners, especially Target Center and its state-of-the-art venue, we can’t wait to welcome more basketball fans to our great state.”
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