The Big 12 plans to enter into a multi-year agreement to play regular season soccer and men’s basketball in Mexico starting in 2024, sources confirm to CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. Monterrey (soccer) and Mexico City (men’s basketball) have been identified as potential host cities, and there are future plans to add women’s basketball, women’s soccer, and baseball.
Despite Kansas and the upcoming Big 12 member being targeted as a possible favorite against Mexico City, neither the dates nor the teams have been finalized, sources said to Dowd. An official announcement from the Big 12 is expected Wednesday with the conference’s spring meetings taking place this week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark was inspired by the international success of the MLB, NFL, and NBA leagues, all of which played games in Mexico. “The commissioner wants to emulate the success of professional sports teams,” a league source told Dowd. This will require an extension [multi-year] A visit, not just a one-off weekend.”
Estadio BBVA, a 53,500-seat stadium in Monterrey, is the target venue for football games for the Big 12, according to multiple reports. It is not clear which schools may participate in the interim football matches. Meanwhile, basketball games can be played at the 22,300-seat Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
The Big 12’s scouting of Mexico-based action is the latest move to expand its reach under Yormark, who has embraced a reimagined approach to the conference since succeeding Bob Bowlsby in 2022. In March, the Big 12 announced it would partner with the NFL for a Big 12 Pro Day at the conference level in 2024 at The Star in Frisco, Texas—an event intended to increase the exposure of athletes compared to traditional on-campus professional days.
Yormark’s first year in charge comes at a time when big changes loom in Big 12 membership. Texas and Oklahoma are leaving the SEC next year, but not until after BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF arrive in time for the 2023-24 season. This puts the Big 12 at the conference record of 14 members before returning to 12 members following the departure of the Longhorns and Sooners. Although the Big 12 added four new members later this year, it may not be done with the expansion. yourmark Tell John Canzano and John Willner said earlier this year that the Big 12 would “want that fourth.” [Pacific] time zone to create more value for our media partners. ”
In the year 2022, Yormark Extension completed Among the Big 12’s media rights deal is with ESPN and Fox Sports through 2031 for a total value of about $2.3 billion.