U Of I To Bid Once More To Host High School Basketball Tournament

Nearly 20 years after losing out to Peoria, Champaign-Urbana hopes to once again host the Illinois state high school boys basketball tournament. And a bid will be made for the girls basketball tournament as well.

The University of Illinois and Visit Champaign County (also known as the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau) plan to submit bid to the Illinois High School Association to host the two tournaments from 2016 through 2020.The IHSA is expected to announce its selections in March of next year.

Visit Champaign County CEO Jayne DeLuce says a big plus for Champaign-Urbana’s bids will be the U of I’s State Farm Center, now undergoing major renovations. DeLuce says those renovations will enhance the entire tournament, both the games and related activities.

"Most important will be a very positive game atmosphere, but there’ll also be all of the amenities within the facility, that will create an awesome fan experience within the State Farm Center itself", said DeLuce

Champaign-Urbana and the U of I hosted the state high school boys basketball tournament for 77 years, before Peoria won the right to host it in the 1990s. The girls basketball tournament is currently held in Normal.