ARIZONA STATE

Report: Pac-12 to debut conference baseball tournament in Arizona

May 22, 2020, 9:36 AM

General view of action between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs during the spring trai...

General view of action between the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs during the spring training game at Scottsdale Stadium on March 1, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

The Pac-12 will have a conference baseball tournament for the first time starting in 2021, the Arizona Daily Star’s Michael Lev reported Friday.

Lev added that it is scheduled to take place at Scottsdale Stadium the next three years. Scottsdale Stadium is the San Francisco Giants’ spring training home, located about five miles from Arizona State’s baseball home, Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Pac-12 previously has not had a conference tournament for baseball and instead jumped straight into NCAA Regionals. Their “Power 5” counterparts — the Big 12, Big Ten, SEC and ACC — all have conference tournaments.

A format for the tournament hasn’t been finalized, according to Lev, who said that one potential format is having the top eight teams out of 11 (Colorado doesn’t have a baseball program) play a double-elimination tournament.

It’s not clear whether the Sun Devils or Wildcats will be able to get in a normal number of games in the 2021 season ahead of this tournament debut, as schools feel the financial burden caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Most college sports teams get a significant portion of their revenue from football and basketball, whose upcoming seasons could be shortened by the pandemic.

“I think all attention and focus right now is on … finances, so football,” ASU baseball head coach Tracy Smith said Wednesday. “I think what’s going to drive all of those decisions — and we have the benefit of being a spring sport, that some of this stuff will sort itself out, but right now … everything’s on the table, because if we don’t have football to the extent where revenue’s generated, that’s going to impact everything.

“I’ve heard discussions about reduction of games and regional scheduling and all of those things, but to date, we’ve had nothing that has been mandated to us. But like I said, the situation is so fluid, but until they figure football out, I don’t think any of those questions are going to be answered.”

Arizona State

Runners take off after the starting gun at Pat's Run in Tempe. The race, will be run on April 13 th...

Character Counts

The 20th annual Pat’s Run set take place in Tempe on April 13

The 20th iteration of Pat's Run is set to take place in Tempe on April 13 to honor the life and legacy of Pat Tillman.

12 days ago

Kole Calhoun #56 of the Arizona Diamondbacks hits a single in the seventh inning against the Chicag...

David Veenstra

Former Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona State outfielder Kole Calhoun retires

Former Diamondbacks and Arizona State outfielder Kole Calhoun announced his retirement on Friday. He played12 seasons in the major leagues. 

12 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What is Bobby Hurley’s future at Arizona State?

On the latest State of the Sun Devil podcast the guys react to the end of men's basketball season, and wonder what the future of the program will be and how the offseason will unfold. Plus, reactions to football's pro day.

13 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Why Jose Perez left Arizona State, how the guard ‘struggled with his decision’

Sun Devils men's basketball head coach Bobby Hurley joined Bickley & Marotta to share what he knows about the Jose Perez leaving the program with one game left in the regular season. Plus, Hurley looks ahead to the final Pac-12 Tournament.

16 days ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: What does Arizona State men’s basketball need to do against Bronny James and USC?

On the latest edition of State of the Sun Devils, the guys discuss what Arizona State men's basketball needs to do next.

23 days ago

Washington State guard Myles Rice (2) struggles to get around Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (...

Vincent DeAngelis

Arizona State upsets No. 21 Washington State with a defensive masterclass

Arizona State defeated No. 21 ranked Washington State to snap their two-game losing streak after dominant defensive performance.

1 month ago

Report: Pac-12 to debut conference baseball tournament in Arizona