PROVIDENCE, R.I. – American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco announced today that Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, has been selected to host the 2020-22 American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championships.
The dates of the championships will be March 12-15, 2020; March 11-14, 2021; and March 10-13, 2022.
Dickies Arena is scheduled to open in 2019 and has already been selected as the host for the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament first and second rounds in addition to the 2020-22 NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championship. The 14,000-seat arena will include two premium club spaces, 40 suites, 10 loge boxes and a warmup arena that can stage a full practice court.
"We are delighted to partner with the city of Fort Worth and Dickies Arena for our 2020-22 Men's Basketball Championships," Aresco said. "This three-year agreement will bring our Men's Championship to a vibrant, sports-minded community that embraces major events and extends wonderful hospitality to visitors. Dickies Arena is a state-of-the-art facility that our student- athletes, coaches and fans, as well as a national television audience, will enjoy.
"We look forward to working with Matt Homan, President and General Manager of Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth, and Bob Jameson, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, and thank them for their support and vision, which will make this an extremely successful event."
Located in Fort Worth's Cultural District, Dickies Arena sits among a thriving tourism area and just 10 minutes from downtown Fort Worth. Six of The American's 12 members are located within driving distance of Fort Worth, while the other six members have direct flight options to the metropolitan area.
"Earning the opportunity to host the American Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Championship in addition to major NCAA wins earlier this year shows that we have quickly become a player on the national event scene," said Matt Homan, President and General Manager of Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth (MAFW), the not-for-profit operating entity of Dickies Arena. "We look forward to welcoming The American and its member institutions, as well as their student-athletes, alumni and fans to Fort Worth and to showcasing our incredible facility and city."
"Fort Worth takes great pride in hosting world-class sporting events, and we are excited about The American's decision," said Bob Jameson, President and CEO of the Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau. "With the new Dickies arena and our nationally recognized downtown, we are confident American Athletic Conference student-athletes and fans will enjoy the championship atmosphere Fort Worth provides."
The successful bid was due to a partnership between MAFW and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitor's Bureau. The American Men's Basketball Championship joins an impressive list of sporting events in the Fort Worth area, including the PGA Tour, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, two NASCAR races and a Verizon IndyCar Series race.
All 12 American Athletic Conference schools will participate in the 2020-22 championships. The format currently calls for four first-round games on the first day, followed by four quarterfinal matchups, two semifinal contests and the championship game.
The Amway Center in Orlando, Florida will be the site of the 2018 American Men's Basketball Championship, March 8-11, and FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee will host the 2019 championship, March 14-17.
