Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts, is set to welcome another college basketball event: The 2021 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament.
In January the NCAA announced that Lucas Oil Stadium, in part with surrounding arenas in the city, would host March Madness. But now the Big Ten conference has decided to relocate their tournament from the United Center in Chicago to Indianapolis.
Directors of Athletics and Senior Women Administrators from all 14 schools make up the Big Ten Conference Administrators Council. The executive decision was made in agreement with the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors, as well as the conference office.
Chicago has played a big role in hosting the Big Ten for nearly two decades and the conference gives thanks to all that Mayor Lori Lightfoot has done to make them feel at home. But this decision comes from long thought and is being executed to ensure top-notch safety to the student-athletes and personnel associated with each team.
In a release from the Big Ten, they state "Hosting both the men's and women's basketball tournaments in the same city allows for cohesive testing and medical protocols for both events, as well as centralized accommodations surrounding the competition venues."
The Big Ten Women's Basketball Tournament will be played in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, also in Indianapolis. Indianapolis has hosted the Big Ten women's tournament for the past 27 years. Having both tournaments in the same city provides more safety for everyone who helps make these events happen.
The Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament for the year for the 2020-21 season will take place March 10-14.