STORM: Pac-12 Tournament Moving to Seattle

Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament Moves to Seattle

March 12, 2012

WALNUT CREEK, CALIF. - With its new partnership with Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC, the Seattle Sports Commission and Seattle Center, the Pac-12 Conference will bring the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament to KeyArena in Seattle in 2013, and will deliver unprecedented national television exposure to its women's basketball teams and student-athletes, it was announced today.

The new agreement, which runs through 2015, moves the tournament to the first week in March to strengthen television windows and maximize national exposure. ESPN2 will televise the championship game, while all other games will be carried nationally on the Pac-12 Networks. The 2013 tournament will be played between March 7-10.

"We are extremely proud of the rich heritage the Pac-12 has in women's basketball and we feel strongly that this new partnership will enhance the tournament experience for our student-athletes and fans," Pac- 12 Commissioner Larry Scott said. "Seattle is a beautiful city that has proven to be a prolific women's basketball market. Force 10 Sports Marketing shares our commitment and passion for women's sports and we look forward to growing the tournament together."

The popularity of women's basketball in the Seattle market, the 12th largest in the nation, can be seen with the groundbreaking success of the WNBA's Seattle Storm. The team is consistently among the leaders in attendance in the WNBA, averaging 8,658 fans in 17 regular-season home games in 2011. They have increased attendance 10 percent the last two years.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Seattle and the Pac-12 Conference," CEO of Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC Karen Bryant said. "We are tremendously excited about working together to deliver a first-class event for the participants, fans and the community. This region is passionate about basketball and an ideal destination for this championship tournament."

KeyArena, home to the two-time WNBA champion Storm, has entertained more than 10 million guests as Seattle's premier venue for sports, concerts and family entertainment. Its unique design provides sports and concert fans an intimate entertainment experience with spectacular sightlines and acoustics. A commuter-friendly city, fans have a convenient link between downtown Seattle and Seattle Center with the Seattle Center Monorail.

"We are very excited to host the Pac-12 Conference and their Women's Basketball Tournament at KeyArena," Executive Director of the Seattle Sports Commission Ralph Morton said. "It is a great opportunity for us to show off our community to one of the premier conferences in the country and the thousands of fans that follow their member institutions. Seattle is an ideal destination for hosting major events and this tournament will be a great addition to the sports calendar for our region."

The Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament, the Conference's premier women's sporting event, enters its 12th season in 2013. The tournament made its debut in 2002 and was held at the University of Oregon's campus in Eugene, Ore. The four-day event spent the last four years in Los Angeles.

"We are honored to continue the successful tradition of women's basketball at KeyArena by welcoming the Pac-12 Women's Tournament in 2013 to Seattle and look forward to welcoming teams from around the region to our great city," Director of Seattle Center Robert Nellams said.

About the Pac-12 Conference

The Conference has a tradition as the "Conference of Champions," earning more than 175 NCAA team titles over the past 20 years, and has led the nation in NCAA Championships in 45 of the last 51 years. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Washington, Washington State University, the University of Utah, and the University of Colorado. Conference of!ces are located 25 miles east of San Francisco in Walnut Creek, CA. For more information on the Conference's programs, member institutions, and Commissioner Larry Scott, go to www.pac-12.org.

About Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC

Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC is committed to supporting premier sporting events and activities that celebrate athletes, delight fans and create memorable experiences. Owned and led by the same team that leads the Seattle Storm, Force 10 Sports Marketing leverages the knowledge and expertise gained from operating one of the nation's premier women's sports teams, to deliver marketing value and revenue growth to other sporting events.

About the Seattle Sports Commission

The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC) is a non-pro!t agency whose mission is to play a critical role in generating the power of sports to drive economic development, influence the quality of life and shape the future of the region.

About KeyArena

Opened in 1995, KeyArena at Seattle Center is Seattle's premier venue for sports, concerts and family entertainment. The facility has entertained over 15 million guests and is home to 2010 WNBA champions Seattle Storm, Division One Seattle University Men's Basketball and flat track Rat City Rollergirls. The venue, ranked among the top 100 venues in the world, provides a broad range of live music, entertainment, family shows and community programming for the City of Seattle.

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