RENO, Nev. — Plagued by a dip in attendance in recent years, Reno business leaders are teaming up with Nevada athletic officials to offer discount tickets to the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament March 11-13.

The total attendance of 46,600 fans during the four-day tournament at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno last season was down 20 percent from the previous season in Las Cruces, N.M. It was down 31 percent from the last time Reno hosted the event in 2006.
As a result, the tournament operated at a deficit of about $199,000 last year.
In addition to local companies, athletic Director Cary Groth says the discounted ticket offers will be available to local, state and federal government workers in the area.