With the loss of the Zags in July to the Pac-12, there has been talk if the tourney could stay at the Orleans Arena. I spoke to the WCC Commissioner yesterday at the game. He said they are seriously considering the Lee Family Forum in Henderson. SCU played there against ASU in December. It’s the Silver Knights minor league team for the NHL Golden Knights home. It’s a new arena that holds 5500 and very nice. (Orleans arena is 9k). Commissioner said it’s a similar distance to Henderson from the strip as it is to the Orleans. I want to stay in Vegas so I’m OK with this.
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I attended the Bronco’s game there in 2024. It’s a very nice facility, with good sight lines and better concessions than Orleans. Without the Spokane crowd, it’s probably the appropriate size.
Stu is a bit generous in saying it’s the same distance from the strip. It’s probably 2x the travel time. The Green Valley Ranch Hotel and Casino is nearby, but otherwise there are no other hotels.
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Agreed that the Henderson facility is much nicer than The Orleans. Green Valley Ranch Resort and The District has better offerings than anything nearby The Orleans.
It’s a 20-25 minute drive from the Strip but with commuter traffic on a weekday it’s more like 35 minutes. SCU played ASU on a Friday, two years ago and it took that long
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It’s also a nightmare getting an Uber out of there
I forgot to add that the WCC is giving consideration to Palm Springs at that Accrisure Arena. Have also heard there is one decision maker who’s pushing Tahoe.
As Buckets said Rideshare at the Henderson venue is a nightmare. At least a 15 minute wait, can’t imagine what it’s like when an event ends and the demand is huge
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I’ve waited 1 hr 15 min before
Tahoe would be AWESOME!
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Tahoe would be brilliant!
For those who do not know: The Tahoe Blue Event Center (the sponsor is Tahoe Blue vodka, my favorite vodka) opened in 2023, it is right along casino row in South Shore. It holds about 4,000-5,000 people depending on event type. It is the home of the Tahoe Knight Monsters, a AA minor league affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team.Logistically, it might not be ideal: either need to drive from the Bay Area (for home USF/SMC/SCU fans), or fly into Reno (at best 45 min to South Shore) or Sacto (2+ hours). That’s in good weather. If a freak snowstorm hits, it could be a real mess. Also, accommodations can be a bit limited on winter weekends because of all of the skiers who head up there.
I’d love to see them try it once assuming they could block out enough rooms. But according to ChatGPT, there are only about 1,200 hotel rooms in all of South Shore. Even with all of the cabins for rent, I don’t think the math works.
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I pitched Tahoe in this group a couple years back… and most of the arguments against were because of weather. What happens if a team can’t fly in or fans driving, etc etc?
Personally I still think this would be one of the most unique tourneys in the country - and proudly WCC, celebrating our vibrant coastal mountains.
A day of skiing → sportsbooks → games in the evening sounds “heavenly”.
I wouldn’t mind if we get back to a rotational schedule but instead of home campuses, the use of cool cities/ facilities. A 4-5 yr rotation of Vegas, Tahoe, Chase Center, Lakers/Clippers, Palm Springs.
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The other challenge: The Tahoe Blue Event Center is at about 6,300 elevation, 1,200 ft higher than The Pit. Players could be gassed pretty quickly.
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You guys are all using logic. I am just thinking about how easy it is from the Bay Area.
I would love a tournament in Tahoe too, but think the logistics are tough. If there’s a weather contingency plan–like a standing alternative in Reno–then I think Tahoe would be the coolest option on the table by a healthy margin. Being able to take the afternoon off in the Bay Area and bomb up to South Lake for a semi-final game would be a dream. Vegas is just too inaccessible.
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A tournament in Tahoe sounds great until you get a spring storm that closes 80.
Or even worse, Hwy 50
Reno at the new Grand Sierra Resort arena being built for Nevada starting in ‘27 must be on the table
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Logistically, Reno is a good option - very centrally located, lots of flights, no long commute from airport to venue, etc.
Having said that…personally not a big fan of Reno.
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My deep love of WCC basketball has an equal and opposite reaction in my complete disinterest in going to Las Vegas, Nevada under any circumstances.
It just isn’t my place. I doubt I’m alone, though I concede it’s a minority take and many seem to love it.
I also think, in the recent past (although the ground keeps shifting), there are 3 if not more conference basketball tournaments in Las Vegas, with the WCC’s lack of intrigue and smaller alumni bases making it among the least compelling for the average fan (or unaffiliated human).
I agree that Tahoe sounds compelling, but altitude and weather make it less feasible. Reno has essentially the same problems, albeit with an airport in the city rather than the trek to SLT.
I know we won’t do it, but I think this league would sell a lot of tickets if the Tournament was at the Chase Center. Sure, it’s homerism for the three Bay Area schools, but it might be what it takes to actually get people in the stands.
I assume NBA arenas are too expensive, but a rotating slate of Staples/Intuit, Chase and the Seattle one, all with the tops tarped off, would be really great and showcase our wonderful markets.
The nature of the average WCC fan seems to me to be that they might drive 30-60 minutes to see their squad, but are really unlikely to fly and book multiple nights of hotels.
I wish there was a nice, smaller sized Bay Area venue that could host the tournament - campus sites are a likely hokey.
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Oracle Arena would probably a more realistic option, if we’re talking Bay Area.
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I would happily do Acrisure in Palm Desert before LV. I’m with Nashty–Vegas just isn’t my spot. I’d guess that these contracts are for 5 years at a time or so, making rotating NBA arenas not feasible. Then a given locale needs to be credibly “neutral” which makes it harder to justify the Bay Area or LA.
My preferences:
- Tahoe (with weather contingencies…still likely infeasible)
- Acrisure in Palm Desert/Palm Springs
- Sacramento? High on accessibility, low fun factor
- Henderson, NV
If we are just dreaming out loud, I’d build a temporary pavilion in the Sonoma or Napa County Fairgrounds. Want a unique, very West Coast location with tourism appeal? Bring the Tourney to PattyMac 
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I think Vegas was most appealing to the Spokane fan base that didn’t attend Gonzaga. 
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