Big 12 Announces Location Change for Baseball Tournament

The Big 12 Baseball Championship is packing its bags for the desert.

Starting in 2026, the league’s postseason tournament will move to Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona—home to MLB spring training for the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals. The venue, recently ranked the No. 1 spring training facility in the country by USA Today, will host the 12-team championship from May 20–23, 2026.

This marks a major shift for the Big 12, which has held the event at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, since 2022. The conference will continue working with REV Entertainment, the Rangers’ event management arm, as it transitions the tournament to Arizona.

For fans, it means trading in the modern, climate-controlled Globe Life for a more traditional spring training vibe. Surprise Stadium seats over 10,000 and offers shaded lawn areas, premium suites, and an open-air setting that should feel familiar to college baseball fans who’ve attended early-season tournaments out west.

It’s also a sign of the Big 12’s evolving geographic footprint. With four league members located west of Texas—including Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, and Utah—this move plants a flag squarely in the league’s new western territory.

The change raises questions about travel logistics and fan accessibility—particularly for programs based in Texas, Kansas, and the Midwest. But it’s a clear statement: the Big 12 is serious about growing its presence in the West.

After four seasons in Arlington, the championship’s next era begins in the Valley of the Sun. Get ready for postseason baseball in the desert.