WAC officials have signed a contract to move the conference tournament to Las Vegas in 2011 and 2012. The top eight teams from the regular season will play at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, which is a neutral site. Reno has hosted the tournament in recent years. It is the hometown of Nevada, giving the Wolf Pack a significant home court advantage in a tournament that often decides a single NCAA Tournament for the WAC. Conference officials and coaches applaud the move for 2011 and 2012 in a conference press release.
“We are extremely excited about bringing the WAC’s most prestigious event back to the city of Las Vegas and the Orleans Arena,” said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. “Over the last couple of years, it has become more critical and important to find a neutral site to satisfy the concerns of our men’s and women’s coaches. WAC fans have shown that they enjoy traveling to Las Vegas and I am certain the Orleans Arena will create a great tournament atmosphere.”
“WAC head basketball coaches have been pushing for a neutral site for a number of years,” said Utah State men’s head coach Stew Morrill. “Las Vegas will be an exciting location, The Orleans is a great venue, and most importantly no team will have home court advantage.”
This marks the second time that the WAC Basketball Tournament will be played in Las Vegas. From 1997-99, the tournament was played at the Thomas & Mack Center when UNLV was a member of the WAC.
