DICKIES ARENA TO HOST 2020-22 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

For Immediate Release
August 16, 2017

(Fort Worth) – 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 championship will be March 12-15, 2020; March 11-14, 2021; and March 10-13, 2022.

All 12 American Athletic Conference schools will participate in the 2019 championship. The format calls for four first-round games on the first day, followed by four quarterfinal matchups, two semifinal contests and the championship game.

“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.”

Scheduled to open in November 2019, Dickies Arena has been announced as the host of other national events. In addition to becoming the new home of the Fort Worth Stock Show rodeo performances, Dickies Arena will host the NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Round games in 2022 and the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in 2020-2022.

“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.”

The successful bid was due to a partnership between MAFW and the Fort Worth Convention & Visitor’s Bureau.

“Fort Worth takes great pride in hosting world-class sporting events, and we are excited about the AAC’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 AAC student-athletes and fans will enjoy the championship atmosphere Fort Worth provides.”

The Amway Center in Orlando will be the site of the 2018 American Men’s Basketball Championship, March 8-11, and FedExForum in Memphis will host the 2019 championship, March 14-17.

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Dickies Arena will be a 14,000 seat, spectacular multipurpose venue located adjacent to the Will Rogers Memorial Center campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility is the result of a pioneering public-private partnership between the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the State of Texas and a group of private-sector participants, including foundations, individuals and organizations. The arena will be owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by the not-for-profit operating entity, Multipurpose Arena Fort Worth (MAFW). The state-of-the-art arena, scheduled to open in November 2019, will host concerts, sporting events and family entertainment, and will be the new home to Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performances. For more information, visit www.DickiesArena.com

CONTACT:
Alissa Cunningham
acunningham@fwarena.com
816.769.2234

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