The Big 12 Conference has announced plans to expand its presence in Mexico by organizing men’s and women’s basketball games in Mexico City in late 2024. Additionally, the conference is exploring the possibility of hosting a football bowl game in Monterrey. This expansion into Mexico is seen as a natural extension of the Big 12’s footprint, according to commissioner Brett Yormark.
The initial basketball games in Mexico City will feature the University of Kansas and the University of Houston, with the matchups scheduled to take place at Arena CDMX in December 2024. Following that, women’s soccer teams and baseball teams from the Big 12 will participate in exhibitions against local clubs in the region. The conference is also targeting a football bowl game in Monterrey, potentially to be played after the 2026 regular season.
The Big 12 Conference is set to expand from 10 to 14 schools on July 1, 2023, with the addition of Brigham Young University (BYU), Central Florida, Cincinnati, and Houston. This expansion comes ahead of the departures of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas, who will be joining the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Commissioner Yormark emphasized the importance of expansion for the Big 12 during recent meetings, expressing that the Mexico initiative will provide a natural extension into the local Mexican market and offer Big 12 athletes the opportunity to compete internationally.
The Big 12 Mexico strategy will not only involve hosting conference games but will also include community outreach programs, commercial partnerships, merchandise collaborations, and activations. The league plans to partner with prominent musicians and artists and launch an influencer marketing campaign in the region.
If realized, the bowl game in Monterrey would become the second postseason bowl game held outside the United States, joining the Bahamas Bowl in Nassau. The Big 12 is still in the process of exploring business partnerships and determining a league pairing for the potential bowl game in Monterrey.
