OHSAA moves boys, girls basketball tournaments to UD Arena through 2024

DAYTON — The University of Dayton Arena will be the host of both the boys and girls Ohio High School Athletic Association state basketball tournaments for the next three years, according to university athletic officials.

>>RELATED: NCAA keeps First Four at University of Dayton Arena through 2026

The agreement comes after UD hosted both tournaments at the arena in March.

The arena had been chosen as the host site for the girl’s tournament through 2023, however the new contract replaces the existing one, and will include both the boys and girls through 2024.

“Even with the pandemic limiting what all could take place at the state tournaments last March, our schools still had a great experience at UD Arena, and UD made it very clear that they wanted to host both the girls and boys state tournaments moving forward,” OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in a media release.

“We know that the support for basketball in Southwest Ohio is very strong and UD wants to be the home of the state tournaments.”

Ohio State had been the primary host of the two tournaments since the first men’s tournament in 1957 and the first women’s in 1976, with a couple of exceptions. But after the tournaments in March, UD Arena will serve as the championship host for the next three years.

The announcement will add to a busy March at UD Arena in the years to come. On top of the end of the regular seasons for UD’s men’s and women’s teams, the arena is slated to host the NCAA’s First Four through 2026.

“In addition to our love of the Dayton Flyers, we are so proud to host many great events here, including the NCAA First Four, and we are pleased and grateful to welcome the OHSAA girls and boys basketball state tournaments to UD Arena,” Scott DeBolt, Senior Associate Athletics Director at the University of Dayton and Executive Director of UD Arena said.

“Our community will support the state tournaments just like our other events and this will be a special place for the teams, schools and communities that reach the state tournaments,” DeBolt said.

A press conference with more details on the announcement is scheduled for Monday afternoon.

We’ll update this story as we learn more.

Cox Media Group