🎵 Kansas City, Here I Come!

Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament 2026

Tournament Info

📅 Dates

March 10-14, 2026

Tournament runs over 5 days with semifinals/finals on the weekend

📍 Location

T-Mobile Center

1407 Grand Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64106

Ticket Pricing (General Estimates)

Tickets are sold by session or as all-session passes

🎟️ Upper Level (per session) $85-130
🏀 Mid-Level Sideline Reserved (recommended) $130-200/session
⭐ All-Session Pass (entire tournament) ~$200-300

Note: Mid-level sideline seats give you that sweet spot - good view, center-ish, not nosebleeds!

View Official Tickets →

🌡️ Weather in KC (Early March)

Highs: 52-62°F | Lows: 34°F (freezing at night)

Pack: Jacket, layers, maybe a light winter coat for evenings. Not Tucson weather! 😅

Where to Stay

All hotels within walking distance or short drive to T-Mobile Center

Loews Kansas City

📍 To Arena: 0.2 mi (5 min walk)
✈️ To Airport: 21 mi (23 min drive)
🅿️ Parking: $33-45/night
$200-300/night

Upscale, walking distance, indoor pool, on-site restaurant

Book Loews →

Hampton Inn Downtown

📍 To Arena: 0.3 mi (10 min walk)
✈️ To Airport: 16 mi (23 min drive)
🅿️ Parking: $18/day
$150-200/night

Mid-range, free breakfast, Starbucks on-site, streetcar stop outside

Book Hampton Inn →

Hotel Kansas City

📍 To Arena: Downtown (walkable)
✈️ To Airport: ~20 mi
🅿️ Parking: Valet available
$200-350/night

Historic upscale hotel, Unbound Collection by Hyatt

Book Hotel KC →

La Quinta Beacon Hill

📍 To Arena: 2-3 mi (short drive)
✈️ To Airport: ~18 mi
🅿️ Parking: FREE
$100-150/night

Budget-friendly, free parking, clean rooms

Book La Quinta →

💡 Do you need a car? If staying at Loews or Hampton Inn, you can walk to the arena. For airport pickup, use Uber/Lyft (~$40-50 each way) or rent a car if you want flexibility to explore KC.

Getting Around

🚗 Car Rental

If you want to explore KC beyond the arena

  • Estimated Cost: $40-70/day
  • Ray's Discounts: Check Avis/National
  • Parking at Hotels: $18-45/night
Compare Car Rentals →

🚕 Uber/Lyft

Convenient for airport and around town

  • Airport to Downtown: $40-50
  • Around Downtown: $10-20/trip
  • Free KC Streetcar: Covers downtown area!

Flight Options

Phoenix (PHX) → Kansas City (MCI) - Direct Flights

⏱️ Flight time: ~2.5 hours nonstop

Southwest Airlines

Flight Time: 2 hrs 30 min (direct)
Perks: 2 free checked bags, no change fees
$210-250 round-trip
Check Southwest Fares →

American Airlines

Flight Time: 2 hrs 30 min (direct)
Perks: Seat selection, frequent flyer miles
$240-280 round-trip
Check American Fares →

Frontier Airlines (Budget)

Flight Time: 2 hrs 30 min (direct)
Note: ⚠️ Fees for bags, seat selection
$80-120 round-trip*

*Frontier's "Ultra Budget" Breakdown: Base fare is cheap, but you'll pay extra for: carry-on bag ($40-60 each way), checked bag ($40-60 each way), seat selection ($10-40), snacks/drinks. Total could be $200-280 after fees. Good deal if traveling light!

💡 Recommendation: Southwest for the free bags and flexibility, or Frontier if you're packing super light.

Tucson (TUS) → Kansas City (MCI) - 1-Stop Flights

⏱️ Total travel time: ~4-5 hours (with layover)

⚠️ Important: There are NO direct flights from Tucson to Kansas City. All flights require at least one connection (typically through Phoenix, Denver, or Dallas).

Southwest Airlines

Total Time: ~4-5 hours (1 stop)
Common Layovers: Phoenix, Denver
Perks: 2 free checked bags, no change fees
$267-317 round-trip
Check Southwest Fares →

American Airlines

Total Time: ~4-5 hours (1 stop)
Common Layovers: Phoenix, Dallas
$270-320 round-trip
Check American Fares →

Delta / United

Total Time: ~4-5 hours (1 stop)
Common Layovers: Denver, Salt Lake City
$270-350 round-trip

💡 Alternative: Consider driving to Phoenix (1.5 hours) for direct flights and save 2+ hours in the air!

📚 Info Sources