The Mid-American Conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments will remain at Quicken Loans Arena through 2017.
Mid-American Conference commissioner Jon Steinbrecher.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference's men's and women's basketball tournaments will remain at Quicken Loans Arena through 2017 after the conference announced a six-year contract extension on Wednesday.
While it was anticipated any new deal would include a return of all 12 men's teams for the tournament at The Q, with the women's tournament going to their own neutral site, the combined two eight-team formula will remain.
"Given the factors involved, it makes too much sense to continue this format," MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said. "It works very well. It's financially a very good format. That's what makes it attractive."
The 2011 tournament will be March 9-12, the 12th consecutive year for the event in downtown Cleveland. After an opening round of on-campus games for teams seeded fifth through 12th, eight men's and women's teams will advance to the quarterfinals (women on March 9; men on March 10) in Cleveland. The semifinals for both tournaments are March 11, with the championship games a day later.
The top four seeds in both tournaments automatically advance to Cleveland.
"The Mid-American Conference is extremely pleased to extend our partnership with Quicken Loans Arena and the Cleveland Cavaliers for our First Energy Men's and Women's Basketball Conference Tournament," Steinbrecher said in a release. "This partnership provides our student-athletes and our fans the finest basketball facility in the country for our conference basketball tournament."