ST. LOUIS -- Mark your calendar -- your 2018 calendar, that is. The SEC basketball tournament is coming to town.
The Southeastern Conference announced Monday that the league's athletic directors have unanimously selected St. Louis as the host city for the 2018 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament. Games will be played at the Scottrade Center, the same site that has hosted NCAA Tournament and Missouri Valley Conference Tournament action in recent years.
The announcement was made at the league's annual spring meetings in Destin, Fla.
"There were many worthy venues and cities competing for this championship, and I know our fans, our state and the city of St. Louis will help create a memorable experience for our student-athletes, coaches and fans traveling in for this great event," Mizzou athletic director Mike Alden said in a press release. "What an exciting day for our university and our state."
The Missouri hoops squad obviously figures to get a lift playing games just down I-70 from Mizzou Arena. Landing this tournament also was a major coup for the St. Louis Sports Commission, particularly amid rumors that the Missouri Valley tourney could be headed to Kansas City after its contract with the Scottrade Center expires next year.
"Congratulations to St. Louis, the St. Louis Sports Commission and the great basketball fans in the city and our state for earning the right to host the 2018 Southeastern Conference Basketball Tournament," Kim Anderson, the Tigers' new head coach, said in the release. "It's an honor to have the SEC Tournament hosted in our state's footprint for the first time, and I know fans from throughout our league will be treated to a first-class experience and a great week of college basketball."
