IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals to stay at University of Illinois until 2029
IHSA intends to extend contract for girls’ tournament to stay at ISU
(25News Now) - The Illinois High School Association State Boys Basketball Tournament will remain in Champaign through 2029.
The five-year contract extension announcement was made Thursday by the board.
The move was expected, as IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson told 25News in March that they were exploring plans to renew the contract.
“The IHSA is thrilled for America’s Original March Madness to remain in Champaign-Urbana for the foreseeable future,” Anderson said in a prepared statement. “We appreciate the support that Champaign-Urbana and its surrounding communities, the University, State Farm Center, Experience Champaign-Urbana, and all the tournament volunteers annually provide for the state tournament. Champaign-Urbana has a long legacy of producing top tier events that lead to lifelong memories for IHSA players, coaches, schools, and their fans.”
The State Tournament returned to State Farm Center in 2022, after playing in Peoria for 25 years. Before then, the tournament played as the then Assembly Hall from 1963 to 1995, and debuted on the University of Illinois campus in 1919.
“We are honored to continue as host of the boys’ basketball state finals on the University of Illinois campus,” said University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman in the prepared statement. “The Champaign-Urbana community has come together to provide a first-class experience to all the teams over the past three years, and we know from the overwhelming feedback we’ve received that it has been a positive experience for all who have participated. We are proud to continue our longstanding, strong partnership with the IHSA and are thrilled that the state championships will continue to be played on the biggest stage here at State Farm Center.”
The State Farm Center also hosts the IHSA Boys Individual Wrestling State Finals each February.
The IHSA Board of Directors is also asking IHSA Staff to negotiate a contract extension for the Girls Basketball State Finals at CEFCU Arena at Illinois State University.
“CEFCU Arena and the Illinois State University campus in the only home the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals have ever known, and it is our intention to extend that agreement through 2029 as well,” said Anderson in a statement. “There is mutual interest by the IHSA, Illinois State University, and the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau to make that happen, and I anticipate we will have a formal announcement in the very near future.”
The IHSA also announced they will maintain the three-day format of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday that was adopted before the 2022 state tournament. The game and time schedule is being looked at by the IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee and will be finalized at the June board meeting.
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