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OGDEN — Whether easier or harder, Weber State's path to a Big Sky tournament title got a facelift beginning in 2016.
The Big Sky Conference will play its annual postseason men's and women's basketball tournament in Reno, Nevada, starting in 2016, the league announced Friday. The tournament will be played at the downtown Reno Events Center, a 5,000-seat facility built in 2005 that also hosts the NBA D-League's Reno Bighorns.
“This was an exhaustive process,’’ Big Sky Commissioner Doug Fullerton said in a statement. “Reno, as a city, and the folks that we worked with did a spectacular job in representing their community. We’re extremely excited about going to Reno for our championships.
"I used to travel to Reno often, and one thing that always impressed me about the community is it’s a lot like the communities we have in the Big Sky. It’s a very similar feel. I know we’re going to be welcomed. The coaches and the fans attending are going to feel very good about coming to Reno.”
The conference selected Reno from a list of five finalists for a predetermined, neutral site venue for its annual tournament. The new location will also change qualifying for the tournament — all 12 men's and women's basketball teams in the conference will participate in the championship tournament, whose winner gains an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
In 2015, only the top eight teams in the league qualified for the conference tournament.
“Our committee is confident Reno provides us the best opportunity to showcase our men’s and women’s basketball programs in a neutral, predetermined setting,’’ Big Sky Deputy Commisioner Ron Loghry said. “Our student-athletes and coaches will have a great experience, as will our fans, who will be able to enjoy all there is to do in the Reno-Tahoe area.’’
