The Sun Belt Conference will expand the neutral-site format for its 2010 men’s and women’s basketball championships, inviting all 13 member schools to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the March 6-9 events.

The tournaments will be conducted over four days with all 13 institutions participating. In the past, the Sun Belt used first-round campus games to determine which teams participated in the later rounds. The conference will use two playing courts for the first and quarterfinal rounds at the Summit Arena-Hot Springs Convention Center.

“Last season was the first time we had a neutral-site tournament since 1993, and because it was such a success the coaches and administrators in our conference asked us to pursue the possibility of bringing all of our teams to Hot Springs,” Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Wright Waters said. “This creative new format will allow all of student-athletes and fans the chance to enjoy a special atmosphere and a great college basketball experience.”

The 2009 Sun Belt championships set a record for women’s tournament attendance. Men’s tournament attendance was the highest since 2003.