By the end of the decade, Lawlor Events Center will again be one of the region's hottest spots for all the action of March college basketball.

The Western Athletic Conference announced Oct. 3 the selection of the University of Nevada Wolf Pack as the host of its 2009 and 2010 postseason basketball tournaments. The Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority will co-host the men's and women's conference championships.

Nevada last hosted the WAC tournaments in 2005 and 2006. New Mexico State University is hosting this season's conference basketball tournaments, March 11-15, 2008, in Las Cruces, N.M.

"The WAC looks forward to returning its premier men's and women's event to Reno and the University of Nevada," said Karl Benson, the conference's commissioner. "The Reno, Sparks and Lake Tahoe area has become a favorite destination for fans from throughout the WAC."

The Wolf Pack has hosted 13 conference championships since joining the conference in 2000. University of Nevada Athletics Director Cary Groth said she is certain the tournaments will be well-supported by Wolf Pack fans.

"We have just over 9,000 (season) ticket holders for men's basketball, and the women's basketball team continues to improve under Head Coach Kim Gervasoni, so the University of Nevada can guarantee a great atmosphere for the teams that come," she said.

"I am extremely excited about the return of the WAC Tournament to the Reno-Sparks area," said Mark Fox, University men's basketball head coach. "This community has shown its ability to be a great host of the event."

The tournament will be played March 10-14, 2009, and March 9-13, 2010.