Big 12 Media Days set to kick off in Las Vegas

Big 12 Media Days begin today in Las Vegas, and this year will “likely attract an even greater level of interest for several wide-ranging reasons.” For one, the relocation from Arlington to Las Vegas places the event “squarely in the southwestern territory formerly occupied by the Pac-12,”  from which Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are joining the league this year. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark “may well get asked about the decision to relocate,” and whether it “could portend further westward movement for Big 12 championships.” The conference has also been in the news for “potentially selling its league-wide naming rights to a corporation” and “allowing private-equity investment in the conference.” Yormark “will certainly face extensive questions about these possible initiatives and their repercussions” (LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD, 7/8).

The move to Las Vegas marks the first time the conference's media days are not held in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex “in years.” The move is “more convenient for the four new schools, but it’s less convenient for the other 12” and is also “less convenient for the vast majority of Big 12 media members.” But it “remains to be seen as to whether or not this is a good idea.” Especially when the SEC “gets set to take over the Big 12’s back yard next week” with its own media days happening in Dallas (HEARTLAND COLLEGE SPORTS, 7/8).