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IRVINE, Calif.  – The Big West announced today a multi-year extension of an existing agreement to host the Big West Basketball Championships at The Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nev., through March of 2027.

Under the extension, future dates for the Big West Basketball Championships are March 12-15, 2025, March 11-14, 2026 and March 10-13, 2027.

Beginning with the 2024 event March 13-16, 2024, the field will feature eight women’s and eight men’s teams vying for conference championships and automatic bids to the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

“The Big West membership unanimously agreed that remaining at The Dollar Loan Center provides the best championships opportunity for The Big West and our women’s and men’s basketball programs.” Big West Commissioner Dan Butterly said. “In the end, there is simply no other venue or location that offers a more ideal combination of a first-class facility, state-of-the-art amenities, affordability and endless lodging, shopping, dining and entertainment options."

The 2022 Big West Basketball Championships was the first publicly ticketed event in the 5,567-seat Dollar Loan Center, a venue that is also home to the Henderson Silver Knights, the NBA G League Ignite, the Vegas Knight Hawks of the Indoor Football League and the Vegas Thrill of the Pro Volleyball Federation. The arena also houses the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, the Craggy Range Sports Bar and Grill and a retail store.

“The Big West holds the proud distinction of hosting the first event in this magnificent venue, and so The Dollar Loan Center will always feel like home to us,” Cal State Bakersfield President and Chair of The Big West Board of Directors Lynnette Zelezny said. “When I see the look of awe on the faces of our players as they absorb the scope and caliber of the facility, I am reminded how important it is to provide our scholar-athletes with the first-class competitive experience that they deserve.”

“We are excited and honored that The Big West will stage their men’s and women’s basketball championships at The Dollar Loan Center through 2027,” Vegas Golden Knights President & CEO Kerry Bubolz said. “Each year the Big West Basketball Championships grow in popularity within our community and we’re pleased to partner with The Big West to continue to provide affordable, fun and family friendly college basketball at The Dollar Loan Center.”

Thirty years ago, The Big West began what is now a national trend by contesting the first conference basketball championship tournament in the state of Nevada. The Thomas and Mack Center hosted the 1994 and 1995 championships before the event moved to the Lawlor Events Center in Reno from 1996-2000. The Big West returned to the Las Vegas Valley more than two decades later, hosting the 2021 championships at Michelob ULTRA Arena inside Mandalay Bay before moving to The Dollar Loan Center in 2022.

Fans planning a trip to the Las Vegas Valley for the 2024 Hercules Tires Big West Basketball Championships can visit BigWest.org/2024 for more information. Tickets are available at all 11-member institution’s athletic ticket offices or online at TheDollarLoanCenter.com/BigWest.