NEW YORK –– The Big East Conference and Madison Square Garden have agreed to a multiyear extension of their contract that will keep The Big East Championship at the Garden.
The news was first reported by the New York Post, which reported that the contract was extended through the 2025-26 season. A source confirmed that timeframe to SNY.tv.
Madison Square Garden has been the home of The Big East Championship since 1983. It is the longest running conference tournament at the same site in college basketball.
This year’s event will have 14 teams because the league now has 15 basketball teams and UConn is facing a postseason ban. Next year’s tournament could include as many as 18 teams, once Memphis, Temple, SMU, Houston and UCF join and Syracuse and Pittsburgh leave. “Madison Square Garden has been the BIG EAST’s home for 30 years,” said Commissioner Mike Aresco, “and has produced some of the signature moments in college basketball history. We are happy that our teams will continue to bring the excitement of BIG EAST basketball to the Garden.”
Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports added “Madison Square Garden is thrilled to be extending our relationship with The Big East, an outstanding partner for 30 years. The Big East Tournament is perennially one of The Garden’s most widely anticipated events, and routinely features all the excitement, passion and suspense of the very best in college basketball. As the mecca of basketball, there’s no question that the transformed, state-of-the-art Madison Square Garden arena is the perfect setting for unforgettable Big East moments for years to come.”
