The Big Ten Championship Game is looking for new locations

Indianapolis, Indiana has been a wonderful home for the Big Ten Conference’s Football Championship Game. Its central location within the geographical footprint of the conference has made travel easy for the schools and fanbases who have earned the opportunity to play for the championship. The city of Indianapolis hosts the event outstandingly well with many hotel, food, and entertainment options available beyond the game itself that is played at Lucas Oil Stadium.

This will be the final season with only 14 teams for the oldest conference in college football. Starting next season, the Big Ten’s footprint expands west with the additions of Los Angeles schools USC and UCLA along with Oregon and Washington. Now that four of the more prominent schools west of the Mississippi River now call the Big Ten home, the conference is considering moving the championship game.

It’s unclear at this time exactly where and how many cities the conference will pursue beyond its current home of Indianapolis. The rumors this past week were circulating that Las Vegas was a possible destination.

"“The Big Ten has asked us to submit proposals,” Steve Hill, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO stated in an article with Outkick. “I’m sure they have asked a number of cities. We are certainly interested, will put our best foot forward and know there is no better place for their football championship.”"

Why Las Vegas would work for Big Ten

Much like Indianapolis, Sin City has a state-of-the-art NFL stadium that could be a great venue for the event in the form of Allegiant Stadium. One of the better aspects of the game being played in Indianapolis is the location of the convention center with Lucas Oil Stadium. The two facilities are beside one another and are both within walking distance or a short ride of downtown. Allegiant Stadium doesn’t have a convention center next door, but they are just a short drive from one another, and both are very close to the airport and several top-rated golf courses.

The other option I can see the Big Ten going for is the Rose Bowl. The traditional end-of-year game between the Big Ten and Pac-12 is obviously coming to an end after this season. To be honest, that tradition ended years ago when the College Football Playoff incorporated the big six New Year’s Day Bowls into their model, thus eliminating the idea of the game only taking place between the Big Ten and Pac 12. With the departure of the Pac-12 from being a major player among conferences, it only makes sense that the Rose Bowl and Big Ten find a way to keep some of the tradition of that game somewhat intact.

If the Big Ten continues to grow, and there is definitely the idea that it will, then a warmer southern climate might be another option as well. If Miami or North Carolina were to join, then Charlotte and Miami areas both become viable options along with Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. That being said, Indy has become the gold standard when it comes to hosting championship events and will be the location by which all other future sites will be judged.