In an effort to boost its national profile and protect its best teams, the Sun Belt Conference announced Monday that it was relocating its men's and women's postseason tournament semifinal and championship games to an NBA arena in New Orleans in 2020 and that the tailend of next season's regular season schedule would set the best men's programs against each other.
The decision was made Monday at the conclusion of the Sun Belt Presidents and Chancellors meeting in Atlanta, bringing to fruition an idea that top officials had been considering for several years.
"I'm very pleased that our membership has elected to take a step out of the tradition and go down a path that hasn't been done before," said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson, who said the decision was enacted by an 11-1 vote by member university presidents and chancellors.