As has been widely speculated and reported, the 2021 men’s Big Ten basketball tournament will be relocated from Chicago to Indianapolis the conference confirmed on Tuesday.
The league cites multiple factors for the decision, primarily health and safety, and COVID-19 testing protocols. The event will immediately precede the 2021 NCAA Tournament, which is also based entirely in Indianapolis and the surrounding area.
“It’s a really smart move,” IU coach Archie Miller said on Tuesday. “I just don’t think the tournament would have been able to survive in Chicago. To be able to move it is probably not only a sign that it’s a go, but it is going to be successful.”
The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled to run from March 10 -14. The event will be held once again in Indianapolis in 2022, and return to Chicago in 2023.
The full release from the Big Ten follows.
Via the Big Ten Conference:
STATEMENT ON RELOCATION OF THE 2021 BIG TEN CONFERENCE’S MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
The Big Ten Conference Administrators Council, which includes the Directors of Athletics and Senior Women Administrators from all 14 member institutions, approved measures to relocate the 2021 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament from the United Center in Chicago to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The decision to relocate the tournament was made in collaboration with the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors and the conference office.
The decision to relocate the tournament to Indianapolis was based on multiple factors. First and foremost was the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and conference constituents. Hosting both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in the same city allows for cohesive testing and medical protocols for both events, as well as centralized accommodations surrounding the competition venues.
The Big Ten Conference is grateful to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the city of Chicago and our partners at the United Center and the Chicago Sports Commission for their flexibility and to Indiana Sports Corp, Lucas Oil Stadium and the city of Indianapolis for being able to assist our basketball teams during these unprecedented times.
The United Center and the city of Chicago have played a vital role in the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament over the past two decades and the conference looks forward to the tournament returning to the United Center in 2023.
The 2021 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament will be held March 10-14 in Indianapolis and will precede the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which was moved to Indianapolis and surrounding communities in the state of Indiana in January.
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