The Mountain West proved once again that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
At least for another three years.
The conference announced Thursday that its postseason basketball tournament is staying in the southern Nevada city through 2016 at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center. This March will be the 11th year that the arena has hosted the Mountain West tournament (2000-0-3, 2007-present).
“Las Vegas is a destination city, and in recent years has become a hotbed for NCAA basketball," Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said in a statement. "Extensive research has proven that Mountain West fans prefer this location over any other."
The Mountain West basketball tournament has enjoyed steady growth in Las Vegas, the conference contends, with total overall attendance rising from 46,141 at the inaugural event in 2000 to 82,787 in 2011. Over the last three years, average attendance has exceeded 12,000.
This year's tournament will be March 12-16.
