Boys Hoops State Tourney Returns To Champaign; IHSA Discusses BLM

ILLINOIS — Looking to give fans a "Super Bowl experience" for the boys basketball state finals, the Illinois High School Association announced Monday the tournament will be returning to the campus of the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana for the first time in a quarter-century next year. Champaign-Urbana had hosted the tournament from 1919-1995, but it's been held in Peoria for the last 25 years.

"We see this as the passing of the torch from Peoria to Champaign-Urbana," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement following the organization's latest board meeting, via teleconference. "It is bittersweet because there is incredible passion for high school basketball within these two communities, and both have done so much to elevate the state final experience as hosts.

"The State Farm Center is one of the best arenas in the country, and we are excited to crown state champions there once again. The timing simply felt right to make a change as the tournament format shifts in 2021."

The Peoria Civic Center had also submitted a bid to continue hosting.

The state final hosting bid was a joint proposal from the University of Illinois, the Fighting Illini Athletic Department, State Farm Center, Visit Champaign County, and the Champaign-Urbana communities. The proposal is a three-year bid encompassing the 2021 (March 11-13), 2022 (March 10-12) and 2023 (March 9-11) state tournaments.

Among the many highlights of the bid, according to the statement, includes interactive fan elements around the arena, city and campus marketing initiatives, a special in-arena area for parents with children, and 13 local hotels locking in three-year prices for fans below rack rate. The IHSA’s Wheelchair Basketball State Tournament and Special Olympics Illinois Unified Basketball Tournament will continue to be held in conjunction with the state tournament in Champaign-Urbana as well.

The State Farm Center is fresh off a $170 million dollar state-of-the-art renovation that was completed in 2016. The building has also been home to IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals each winter since 1973.

The state tournament has recently been held over the course of two weekends, but will begin a new format in 2021 that features all four classes being played over the course of three days, culminating with four state championships games on Saturday, according to the statement.

"We want the State Final experience to feel like the Super Bowl of every IHSA sport and activity," Anderson said. "We feel very lucky that these amazing communities are interested in supporting our high schools, while putting forth the time and resources necessary to make sure the students, coaches, fans and officials enjoy a first-class experience. We are truly appreciative of everyone that submitted a bid to host and look forward to working with all of them moving forward."

IHSA MAKES JOINT RESOLUTION ON BLACK LIVES MATTER

The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled board meeting via a video conference call on Monday, where the Board issued a joint resolution:

"Black Lives Matter. The IHSA Board of Directors wholeheartedly believes in this statement, and vows to work together to better educate ourselves, our students, and the IHSA membership on how we can support those impacted by racism and injustice. We will continue to have dialogue on ways we can elevate this message among IHSA students, coaches and officials, while further incorporating Black Lives Matter and equity for all students into the IHSA’s mission and belief statements."

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The IHSA Girls Basketball state finals will remain at Redbird Arena on the campus of Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal for the next three seasons.

"We are excited to continue to serve as the host for the IHSA Girls Basketball State Championships," ISU Director of Athletics Larry Lyons said in a statement. "Illinois State University and Illinois State Athletics have long valued their great partnership with the IHSA, and we take great pride in hosting this Championship. It’s an honor for us welcome the athletes, their families and spectators to campus and the Bloomington/Normal community each year and provide them with a first-class championship experience at Redbird Arena.”

The state final bid, which encompasses three seasons at the newly refurbished arena, was a joint proposal by Illinois State University, Redbird Athletics, the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (BNACVB), and the Bloomington-Normal communities.

Redbird Arena has served as the host of the IHSA Girls Basketball State Finals since 1992, and has also hosted the IHSA Girls Volleyball State Finals since 1990.

SCHOLASTIC BOWL

The IHSA Scholastic Bowl Tournament will get a change of scenery in 2021, as the tourney will move to Heartland Community College in Normal for at least three years. Heartland is the current host of the IHSA Journalism State Finals, a role it began in 2019. Scholastic Bowl was previously held at the Peoria Civic Center since 1997.

CHESS

The Peoria Civic Center has been the home of the IHSA Chess State Finals since 2001, and will continue to house what is believed to be the largest team chess tournament in the world through 2023 following the three-year extension.

Read the full board recap here.

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