WAC will consider Vegas for future basketball tourneys

LAS VEGAS (AP) " The Western Athletic Conference will consider moving the league's postseason basketball tournament to Las Vegas in the future based partly on some schools' desire to play at a neutral site, WAC Commissioner Karl Benson said.

Benson said there has been a strong push to do away with a home court advantage, like the one the Nevada Wolf Pack will enjoy this week and at next year's WAC tourney in Reno.

Salt Lake City and Las Vegas have been considered as possible neutral sites in the past and Vegas has bolstered its chances thanks to the success of the recently concluded West Coast Conference tourney at the Orleans Arena, he said.

"I'm really impressed," said Benson, who attended the WCC title game in Las Vegas between Gonzaga and Saint Mary's.

"Walking around the building, it has an electricity and a tournament atmosphere to it, which is what we're looking for," he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

The issue with Las Vegas has been the venue. The Mountain West occupies the Thomas & Mack Center during the same time that the WAC would want to hold its event. But the 7,845-seat Orleans Arena would be an adequate alternative.

"For the WAC, 8,000 would serve us quite well," Benson said. "The initial concern was being on a casino property. This is different from doing it on a campus. But what we've seen here is the attitude to separate the event from the casino."

The WCC asked The Orleans not to sell alcohol in the arena and not to list its games in the sports book. The casino agreed.

Benson said betting will be a big issue in trying to sell some of his presidents on playing the WAC tournament at The Orleans.

"I think the WCC broke the barrier," Benson said. "They will make it an easier sell to our presidents.

"The alcohol isn't as big an issue with us. Several of our schools sell alcohol at their games. But the gambling is an issue, and while I'm not naive to think someone can't make a bet on our games, to not offer it at the sports book at the site would be important."

WCC commissioner Jamie Zaninovich said he expects to be back at the Orleans Arena next year and for years to come after the WCC set attendance records for single sessions (7,845) and the entire tournament (28,131).

"We certainly hope to be back," Zaninovich said. "We'll meet with our presidents later this month and go over everything. But we're very pleased."

Benson said piggy-backing off the WCC event would be no problem and added that the WAC would not mind sharing the city with the Mountain West should it elect to remain in Las Vegas after its deal runs out next year.

"I think Las Vegas is big enough for both the WAC and the Mountain West," Benson said.

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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com