Big West Will Take On New Look in Fall

The Big West Conference council voted Sunday to make changes that will reshape the conference and move its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to the Anaheim Convention Center, a conference source said.

Meeting in San Diego at the NCAA convention, the council (made up of athletic directors and faculty athletic advisors) took action on two fronts.

It approved a recommendation to the Big West board of directors (school presidents and chancellors) to allow New Mexico State and North Texas to move to the Sun Belt Conference next fall, a year sooner than planned.

It also approved a three-year proposal by convention center officials that will put the basketball tournaments back in Anaheim for the first time since 1982.

The recommendations are subject to approval by the board, which is expected later this month.

No vote was called to recommend inviting Cal State Northridge and UC Riverside to join the conference, but the matter was discussed at length.

“[Commissioner] Dennis Farrell wanted the board to take up the matter themselves,” the source said. “Safe to say, there was no opposition on the council during the discussions. The sentiment was strongly in favor to take both.”

There had been concerns regarding facilities and gender equity at Northridge, but the source said neither is an issue now. The two schools would join in 2001-2002, if the board votes in favor.

New Mexico State and North Texas were scheduled to leave the conference the same school year, but sought permission to jump to the Sun Belt next year. They will play one more football season in the Big West.

Nevada also leaves the Big West next fall, joining the WAC, with Boise State to follow in 2001-2002. Losing Nevada meant conference officials needed to find a site for the basketball tournaments.

Anaheim Convention Center officials offered a three-year deal, beginning next basketball season, at minimal cost. The conference will pay $2.50 per ticket sold next year, $2.60 in 2002 and $2.75 in 2003.

Convention center officials also agreed to make improvements to the arena over the next two years.