Madison Square Garden and Big East Announce Five-Year Extension for Men's Basketball Championship

World's Most Famous Arena to Host Premier College Basketball Conference Tournament Through 2016

New York, NY, October 21, 2009 – Madison Square Garden and the Big East Conference extend the Garden's tenure as the host site for the conference's post-season basketball tournament through 2016, it was announced today. Since 1983, Madison Square Garden has played host to the premier men's college basketball post-season tournament.

Big East men's basketball has become one of the strongest conference's in the nation with the biggest college basketball programs, including local area favorites St. John's, Rutgers and Seton Hall as well as Cincinnati, Connecticut, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, South Florida, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia and defending champions, Louisville.

"The Big East Championship is one of the great traditions at Madison Square Garden," said Scott O'Neil, president, MSG Sports. "We are thrilled to extend our commitment to the Big East through 2016, and to showcase the best college basketball in America to New York City's loyal fans."

"Madison Square Garden and the Big East Tournament have been creating memories for over 25 years," said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. "We are excited our fans will continue to have the opportunity to witness great college basketball, similar to last year's Syracuse and UConn six overtime thriller."

"The BIG EAST Conference and its men's basketball championship have become as much a part of New York City as Broadway, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building," said BIG EAST Commissioner John Marinatto. "Our member schools have enjoyed a 28-year old relationship with the Garden which has provided so many of our student-athletes the ability to realize their childhood dreams of playing in the most famous arena in the world. It was, therefore, only natural for us to extend our agreement with MSG and further capitalize on our New York presence – a combination that has made it the premier postseason basketball tournament in the country. The Garden truly represents the very best in sports, in the greatest city in the world."

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