March 12 / 2021
Mid-American Conference and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Announce Extension to Hold MAC Tournament at the FieldHouse Through 2030
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CLEVELAND –The Mid-American Conference (MAC) and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse have agreed to a seven-year contract extension to host the MAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament at the FieldHouse through 2030. The current agreement expires in 2023.
The announcement was made today by MAC Commissioner, Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, and Cavaliers and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO, Len Komoroski during a press conference held at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Each year the MAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament brings eight men’s and eight women’s teams to Cleveland for a four-day single elimination tournament.
“The Mid-American Conference is pleased to extend its partnership with Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse to host our Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament through 2030,” said Steinbrecher. “This seven-year contract extension provides our student-athletes and our fans the finest basketball facility in the country. The entire Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse team has been extremely supportive to and has worked collaboratively with the Conference staff to ensure our membership and student-athletes have an elite and memorable experience.”
“Throughout the long history of the Mid-American Conference, there have been exciting and tremendous tournament games. Over the past 21 years the Conference has built a tradition of “coming to Cleveland.” This is a destination that keeps getting better and better. We look forward to having the opportunity to host and provide many more unforgettable experiences at the FieldHouse in the years to come,” Steinbrecher added.
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse has served as the host venue for the Men’s Tournament since 2000 and the Women’s Tournament since 2001 and is the second longest running neutral site men’s tournament in the nation.
“Through four extensions in the last two decades, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and the MAC have been on an incredible journey as we've worked together year-after-year to grow this event into a Cleveland tradition that continues to reap many benefits for our region,” said Cavs and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse CEO Len Komoroski. “We are excited to once again extend our partnership and are proud to be able to provide a world-class experience for visiting fans and teams through 2030.”
Studies have shown that the MAC basketball tournament generates over $14.5 million annually in economic impact. Almost one million fans have attended MAC tournament games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse over the past 21 years.
In addition, the MAC and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse will serve as hosts for the 2024 NCAA Women’s Final Four, the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Midwest Regional, and was recently awarded the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Regarding today’s news, the following said:
David Gilbert, President & CEO, Destination Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Sports Commission “The extension of the MAC Tournament through 2030 will provide a major impact to Northeast Ohio for many years to come. Through our valued partnerships with the Mid-American Conference and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse organization our team at Greater Cleveland Sports Commission looks forward to supporting their efforts in continuing to enhance this great sporting event in our community.”
Frank G. Jackson, Mayor of Cleveland “Cleveland looks forward to the MAC Tournament at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse each March, not only because of its significant economic impact, but because the tens of thousands who attend also support our downtown area and businesses. We value our partnership in this tournament and with the MAC. We thank the Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference Dr. Jon Steinbrecher for his leadership and look forward to hosting these tournaments into the next decade.”
Armond Budish, County Executive Cuyahoga County “The MAC is a very special part of our community as hundreds of thousands of graduates of the conference call Northeast Ohio home. The newly-transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is a world-class asset that is perfect for major events that produce deep economic benefits for our region each year. We are honored to be the tournament’s home into the next decade and beyond.”
Mid-American Conference Founded in 1946, the Mid-American Conference is an NCAA Division I, 12-member conference that sponsors 24 championships and is one of ten members of the Football Bowl Subdivison (FBS). With total enrollment of nearly 300,000 students, the league represents institutions of higher learning in five (5) states - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New York, and Ohio.
Since 2000, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC) is responsible for attracting over 200 sporting events which provide more than $843 million in economic activity to Northeast Ohio. GCSC serves to measurably improve the economy of Greater Cleveland and enrich the community by attracting, creating, managing and enhancing significant sporting and competitive events. For more information, visit clevelandsports.org. The newly transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is Northeast Ohio’s premier sports and entertainment facility and major attraction for top tier concert tours and family shows, as well as home to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Monsters and the annual MAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament. Each year, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse hosts more than 200 diverse ticketed events and 1,400 private events that draw over 2 million patrons to downtown Cleveland. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse is established as a successful host site for high profile events of international and national scope, including the 2016 Republican National Convention, the 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals and the upcoming 2022 NBA All-Star Game and 2024 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Final Four. In Pollstar Magazine’s 2019 Mid-Year Report of Top 200 Arena Venues Worldwide for Entertainment Ticket Sales, Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse ranked No. 11 in the United States and No. 27 worldwide in ticket sales for top touring attractions. Visit RocketMortgageFieldHouse.com. |