Ben Howland says move to Las Vegas could pay for Pac-12 tournament

The Pac-12 Conference is expected to move its basketball tournament to Las Vegas next season, something UCLA Coach Ben Howland said could improve the event.

“Las Vegas is a big draw,” Howland said. “There are a lot things to do there other than basketball. If that’s where the Pac-12 ends up going, it will definitely make sense. It’s cheap to get there and the rooms are very reasonable.”

Attendance for the tournament has lagged at Staples Center.

The Pac-12 reportedly has reached an agreement to move its tournament to the MGM Garden.

Howland experienced the pulsating crowds at the Big East Conference Tournament in Madison Square Garden. He said there is a minor, yet significant, difference between New York and Los Angeles.

“Thing about New York is it is so exciting with so much to do,” Howland said. Los Angeles, he said, “has a lot of similar draws, but it is so much more spread out.”

But when it comes to planting roots, Howland said, “I love to visit New York, but Los Angeles, to me, is a great city.”

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