Fort Worth's new arena to host AAC basketball tournament in 2020, 2021, 2022

Fort Worth will host the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament for three years starting in 2020.

The games will be played at the under-construction Dickies Arena in Fort Worth’s cultural district. Ground was broken earlier this year on the $500 million-plus arena.

“Earning the opportunity to host the American Athletic Conference Men’s Basketball Championship in addition to major NCAA wins earlier this year shows that we have quickly become a player on the national event scene,” said Matt Homan, president of the arena operator. The arena was awarded first and second round NCAA tournament games in 2022 earlier this year.

The AAC's three-year stay in Cowtown is good news for SMU and its fans, who are just 45 minutes to the east in Dallas. Other AAC schools in driving distance of Fort Worth are Houston, Tulsa and Wichita State.

“This three-year agreement will bring our Men's Championship to a vibrant, sports-minded community that embraces major events and extends wonderful hospitality to visitors,” said AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco. “Dickies Arena is a state-of-the-art facility that our student- athletes, coaches and fans, as well as a national television audience, will enjoy.”

The dates of the tournament in Fort Worth will be March 12-15, 2020; March 11-14, 2021; and March 10-13, 2022.

The 2018 tournament is in Orlando and 2019 is in Memphis. SMU has won two of the last three AAC men’s basketball tournaments.