[Wattleigh]

https://www.bizjournals.com/houston/...on-mexico.html

University of Houston athletics to play games in Mexico as part of Big 12 expansion

By Chandler France – Reporter, Houston Business Journal
Jun 9, 2023

The University of Houston’s men’s and women’s basketball programs will play games internationally late next year.

The Big 12 Conference — which Houston is officially joining on July 1 — is expanding its presence internationally with the launch of Big 12 Mexico, the conference said June 8. The expansion will kick off in December 2024 with UH’s men’s and women’s basketball squads facing off against the University of Kansas. The games will be held in Mexico City at Arena CDMX. Exact dates have yet to be released.

Following the basketball games, the conference plans to also bring women’s soccer and baseball matches to Mexico. The teams will compete in exhibition matches against clubs in the region, the Big 12 said. This initiative is the first time the conference has held games internationally.

“Mexico is a natural extension to the Big 12 footprint, and I’m thrilled to introduce Big 12 Mexico as the conference’s first-ever international presence,” Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “Through Big 12 Mexico, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete in an international setting, and our conference will have the chance to showcase our brand across Mexico."

The conference is also looking to establish a college football bowl game in Monterrey that would start in 2026, the Big 12 said. It would be the first bowl game held in Mexico.