Want to purchase today’s print edition? Here’s a map of single-copy locations.
Sign up for our newsletters here.
CHAMPAIGN — It’s not just the participating teams that are looking forward to the new format at this year’s IHSA boys’ basketball state finals at State Farm Center.
Business leaders are behind the change, too.
For the first time, the 16 teams are guaranteed at least a two-day stay. In response to frustrated teams and their fans, the IHSA ended the practice of playing semifinal and third-place games on the same day — a format that did little for attendance and atmosphere.
“It’s a positive thing,” said Mark Brown, director of event services and film for Experience Champaign-Urbana. “It allows teams and their fans to experience our community a little bit more.”
Brown and representatives from the IHSA and State Farm Center met Wednesday on campus to “put the finishing touches” on planning for this year’s March 13-15 tournament. It’s the fourth year since the tournament returned to the University of Illinois and the first of a new five-year deal announced in April.
The altered schedule features six semifinals on Thursday. On Friday, third-place games in Class 1A, 2A and 3A will be followed by two 4A semifinals. Saturday’s lineup includes the 4A third-place game and four title games.
“This will boost attendance for the third-place games,” Brown said. “These teams, they may be fighting for third place, but it’s third place in the entire state. It’s still a huge deal.”
All-session attendance in 2024 was 36,780. However, State Farm Center was largely empty for third-place games on Thursday and Friday nights.
Experience Champaign-Urbana works with four hotels to house the 16 state finalists and 16 hotels for fans of those teams.
“With the number of people who are going to be here for longer than a day, the economic impact will be much bigger,” Brown said.
