Seattle – The Pac-12 Conference has extended its partnership with Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC, the Seattle Sports Commission, and the Seattle Center through 2016 to host the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament at KeyArena for a fourth straight year, the Conference announced today. 

This agreement comes as a one-year extension to the three-year contract that was signed in 2012 and facilitated the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Pac-12 tournaments. The tournaments at KeyArena to date have drawn great attendance, provided exciting atmospheres, and created unprecedented national exposure for Pac-12 student-athletes. The same is expected for the 2015 tournament this week.

The 2015 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball tournament tips off at KeyArena March 5 and promises to provide the great women’s sports fans of Seattle with some sensational basketball. With three teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25, Pac-12 women’s basketball is the deepest in recent memory and promises to deliver an exciting tournament. Tickets remain available at pac-12.com/tickets. For fans around the country, all 11 games of the tournament will be broadcast nationally: the first 10 on Pac-12 Networks and the championship game on ESPN.

"We are extremely pleased with the experience our student-athletes, member institutions, and fans have had in Seattle," said Pac- 12 Commissioner Larry Scott. "Our partners share our commitment to and passion for women's sports and the city has set a great stage befitting our premier women’s championship. We are excited to continue to give fans and student-athletes the best championship experience possible."

"We’re thrilled to keep the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament here in Seattle for another year," said Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC Chairperson Dawn Trudeau. "Over the last three years, this tournament has become a first-class event for the participants, the fans and the community. This region is passionate about basketball and will continue to relish the opportunity to host such an exciting event."

The popularity of women's basketball in the Seattle market, the 12th largest in the nation, can be seen with the success of the WNBA's Seattle Storm. The team is consistently among the leaders in attendance in the WNBA, averaging 7,800 fans throughout the franchise’s 15-year history. The Storm has been recognized in the WNBA’s annual General Manager survey as the ‘Best Home Court Advantage in the WNBA’ for five-straight seasons, a nod to the dedicated Seattle women’s basketball fans. 

"We are delighted to continue to host the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament through 2016," said Seattle Sports Commission Executive Director Ralph Morton. "Seattle provides an exciting atmosphere and beautiful backdrop for fans and student-athletes and the tournament is a great opportunity to show off our community to the thousands of fans who follow Pac-12 sports.”

The Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament will be held for the 14th time this week. The tournament made its debut in 2002 and was held at the University of Oregon's campus in Eugene, Ore. The event spent four years in Los Angeles before moving to Seattle in 2013. 

"We look forward to building on the success the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament has enjoyed at KeyArena since 2013," said Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams. “This event has been a great chance to welcome fans and teams from all over the region to our wonderful city.”

About the Pac-12 Conference
The Conference has a tradition as the “Conference of Champions,” leading the nation in NCAA Championships in 48 of the last 54 years, with 471 NCAA team titles overall. The Conference comprises 12 leading U.S. universities: The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of California-Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Colorado, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Stanford University, the University of Southern California, the University of Utah, the University of Washington and Washington State University.  

About Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC
Force 10 Sports Marketing, LLC is committed to supporting premier sporting events and activities that celebrate athletes, delight fans and create memorable experiences. Owned and led by the same team that leads the Seattle Storm, Force 10 Sports Marketing leverages the knowledge and expertise gained from operating one of the nation's premier women's sports teams, to deliver marketing value and revenue growth to other sporting events.

About the Seattle Sports Commission
The Seattle Sports Commission (SSC), a division of Visit Seattle, is committed to making Seattle a world-class sports community.  Sports can bring the world to Seattle and bring our region together.  A strong sports culture can strengthen local businesses, local kids, and local pride.

About KeyArena
Opened in 1995, KeyArena at Seattle Center is Seattle’s premier large event venue for sports, concerts and family entertainment. The facility has entertained over 18 million guests and is home to 2010 WNBA champions Seattle Storm, Division I Seattle University Men’s Basketball and flat track Rat City Rollergirls.  The venue, ranked among the top 100 venues in the world, provides a broad range of live music, entertainment, family shows and community programming for the City of Seattle.