Big East Tournament extended at MSG through at least 2032, ensuring 50-year run
The Big East Tournament will be held at Madison Square Garden through at least 2032, ensuring one of college basketball’s most popular and storied events will take place at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” for 50 consecutive years.
The league and the arena announced a contract extension Friday during a news conference at MSG before the Big East semifinals. Their current deal was set to expire in 2028.
“I’m very happy to report that we have renewed our vows,” Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said. “Hopefully, many additional anniversaries.”
After playing in three different venues during the first three seasons of the Big East, the conference has held its postseason showcase just off Broadway in Midtown Manhattan annually since 1983. That makes it college basketball’s longest-running postseason championship held at one location.
“Trust me, it will be more than 50 years,” said Joel Fisher, Executive Vice President, Marquee
Events and Operations, MSG Entertainment. “It’s just gotten better and better every single year. And we didn’t think it could.”
Even with the league’s reconfiguration in 2013 to include Midwestern schools such as Creighton, Marquette and Xavier, college basketball fans keep flocking to MSG in March. Last year’s Big East Tournament was a complete sellout, with 19,812 fans filling The Garden for all five sessions.
(2) UCONN 95, ST. JOHN’S 90 » Tristen Newton had 25 points and nine assists as UConn (30-3) advanced to the Big East championship game with a rollicking victory over St. John’s (20-13).
Cam Spencer added 20 points and nine assists for the top-seeded Huskies.
It’s the 11th appearance in the Big East final for Connecticut and first since Kemba Walker carried the team to its most recent title in 2011.
Fifth-seeded St. John’s fell behind by 14 with 12:28 left and couldn’t climb all the way back. The Johnnies stayed in the game for much of the way against the reigning national champions, but they couldn’t quite keep up.