The Big East is moving its headquarters to the Empire State Building, bringing the conference closer than ever to its longtime tournament home at MSG
20:17 ET, 04 Jun 2025Updated 20:18 ET, 04 Jun 2025
The Big East has a new home for its headquarters(Image: Porter Binks/Getty Images)
The Big East Conference is moving its headquarters to one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks — the Empire State Building.
After more than a decade based on the East Side of Manhattan, the league will relocate this fall to nearly 8,000 square feet of office space in the 102-story skyscraper. The new location puts the conference just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, where it has hosted its men’s basketball tournament for the last 43 years. The Garden just saw the New York Knicks get defeated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals, leading to the firing of head coach Tom Thibodeau.
“We are very excited to move to the Empire State Building, one of the most iconic buildings in the world,” Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman said. “Our new headquarters will now be a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, where we have proudly held our men’s basketball tournament for the past 43 consecutive years, and will ensure access to all the benefits Midtown Manhattan has to offer.
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“This move also strengthens our historic ties to New York City and further positions our conference at the center of the sports, business, and media worlds.”
The building offers plenty of modern features the Big East plans to take advantage of. That includes more than 65,000 square feet of amenities for tenants — everything from in-building dining options and a private fitness center to a basketball and pickleball court.
There’s also a conference center, a lounge space that can fit 400 people, seating areas, soundproof booths for phone calls, and even two golf simulators.
The Big East is led by commissioner Val Ackerman(Image: Porter Binks/Getty Images)
The move also reflects a growing partnership between the Big East and Empire State Realty Trust, which owns the building.
The two have already teamed up in recent years on promotions and fan events during the Big East Tournament. The headquarters relocation deepens that relationship.
“Our outstanding annual partnership, unmatched location, and premier amenities led the Big East Conference to choose the Empire State Building on their search for New York City office space,” said Ryan Kass, senior vice president and director of leasing at ESRT.
“We are pleased to join our two iconic brands and provide the Big East with a modernized headquarters at the Empire State Building.”
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The Big East includes 11 schools: Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova, and Xavier. It sponsors sports for over 3,800 student-athletes across more than 200 teams in 22 men’s and women’s programs.
By moving to the Empire State Building, the Big East is planting its flag in the heart of Midtown Manhattan — a fitting location for a conference that’s long been tied to New York and has a rich history at Madison Square Garden.
The new space gives the league not only a high-profile address but also a base surrounded by the people, energy, and industries that shape college athletics.