Pac-10 Expected To Revive Its Basketball Tournament

With a new commitment of marketing support and corporate dollars obtained via Liberty Sports, its TV syndicator, the Pacific-10 Conference is on the verge of bringing back its postseason basketball tournament, most likely for the 1997-98 season.

“It might be on the horizon, big time,” said Jim Livengood, University of Arizona athletic director. “I don’t want to get out in front of the (presidents), but I know it will be discussed at our summer meetings.”

Pac-10 officials are in the process of preparing schedules and proposals that would not only bring back the men’s tournament in two years, but would infuse a women’s postseason tournament simultaneously, possibly at the same site. In effect, it would be a celebration of Pac-10 sports, an annual meeting place for the geographically widespread conference.

It is all generated by Liberty Sports, which sees it as a chance to produce new advertising revenues.

“There’s definitely a renewed interest in the tournament,” said Rick Dickson, Washington State’s director of athletics.

Why the change? The Pac-10 hasn’t had a postseason basketball tournament since 1990, its four-year “experiment” banished by what league presidents said was too much missed class time. But that was just varnish. In reality, the Pac-10 tournament was dismissed because (1) there was no suitable neutral site, and (2) not enough corporate support and subsequent income.

But most of that has changed the last six years. The Pac-10 has found itself snubbed by the NCAA tournament and ridiculed by college basketball for abandoning postseason play.

“The available venues have changed so that there are more neutral-type arenas available,” said Livengood, the former WSU athletic director.

Now, for example, the league would probably rotate the tournament on a year-to-year basis among five arenas: America West Arena in Phoenix, The Pond in Anaheim, The Rose Garden in Portland, the Kingdome in Seattle and any of three available arenas in the Bay Area in San Jose, Oakland and Sacramento.

Liberty Sports has escalated its commitment to the Pac-10 and will become more energetic in promoting the league. It has merged with the conference to create Pac-10 Properties, which will manage all aspects of Pac-10 sports, including marketing, licensing, merchandising, publications and special events.

The Pac-10 Tournament had its best success in Tucson in 1988, clearing $800,000. But playing on the home court of the league’s best team soured many of the league’s athletic directors and presidents.

Other tournaments, held at UCLA, Arizona State and at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles were less successful. Part of it was that the league was in a down cycle. Suspense and anticipation was minimal. But now, with rising programs at Washington, Cal, Oregon and Stanford, and with two certified national powers in Arizona and UCLA, interest is much greater.