Previous tournaments, which began in 1998, have been well-attended by MSU alumni and students from the Izzone. Indianapolis and Chicago are considerably closer to East Lansing than the U.S. capital.

Despite the greater distance, it's unclear whether the move will limit the presence of MSU fans at the tournament.

The move will come less than three years after the conference adds Rutgers University and the University of Maryland to its roster, expanding twelve-member conference to 14 schools.

Maryland's athletic director Kevin Anderson praised the decision.

“This is yet another example of the Big Ten’s commitment to our region and provides fans of Maryland and all conference teams on the East Coast easier access to enjoy this outstanding event," Anderson said in the statement.

The Big Ten Conference has expanded greatly in recent years. In 2012, it was the largest collegiate conference, generating $315 million in revenue that fiscal year. In 1989 by comparison, it generated about $20 million, The New York Times reported.

The conference also gained a massive revenue stream through broadcasting. The Big Ten Network makes hundreds of millions each year in revenue, and licensing rights sold to ESPN and ABC for big games total $1 billion over 10 years. The deals have brought millions in additional funding to MSU's athletic department.