"AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- The ACC is "thoroughly investigating" playing its men's basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
One source was adamant that the ACC tournament eventually would be held in the World's Most Famous Arena, which would take it out of traditional ACC country for the first time.
"We'll be playing there," a source said. "It's just a matter of getting all the legal ramifications worked out."
That's because in March, the new Big East Conference and Madison Square Garden announced a 12-year deal through 2026. However, MSG executive vice president Joel Fisher was non-committal about the ACC playing there.
"I don't want to speculate about (the ACC)," Fisher said in March.
Sources said MSG can get out of its deal before 2026 if the new Big East doesn't reach certain benchmarks. That would open the door for the ACC, which is holding its spring meetings in Amelia Island.
"There is real momentum to play the tournament at Madison Square Garden," a source said. "Why shouldn't the premier basketball conference play in the world's premier arena?"
“@McMurphyESPN: ACC looking into playing hoops tourney at MSG sources told @ESPN
http://espn.go.com/new-york/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9278832/acc-investigating-playing-conference-tournament-madison-square-garden-sources-say”