Big Ten Tournament Already Sold Out
(CBS) The Big Ten Tournament's return to Chicago is already a hit.
The conference announced Thursday that the entire tournament is completely sold out. An original allotment of general public tickets went on sale in January and sold out quickly so the Big Ten made a limited number of additional all-session packages available on Feb. 1, but those are now gone too.
The tournament is returning to the United Center for the first time since 2007 when it averaged 18,882 fans per session. Total and average attendance records were set in 2001 with 109,769 total fans and an average 21,954 patrons per session.
Ticket demand is likely due to both the return of the tournament to Chicago after a five-year run in Indianapolis and the high-level of basketball being played in the Big Ten this season. Six Big Ten teams have spent time in the top 10 of the rankings this season and seven in the top 20. Five teams are currently ranked with Indiana at No. 1.
The tournament runs from March 14-17 at the United Center with four first round games on the 14th, four quarterfinal games on the 15th, two semifinal games on the 16th and the championship on the 17th.
