Iowa boys’ state basketball tournament moving to Ames

CEDAR RAPIDS - Things were fine as they were. No major issues, no big headaches.

Going on as usual would have been acceptable.

But the Iowa High School Athletic Association felt perhaps there was something missing with its boys’ state basketball tournament. It needed some juice, a revitalization of some sort.

“The last couple of years we’ve felt like basketball has needed a shot in the arm,” IHSAA Executive Director Tom Keating said. “Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but we feel like it’s just kind of plodding along. Things are good, but could they be any better?”

Which leads us to Tuesday’s announcement that the IHSAA is moving the tournament from Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines to Hilton Coliseum in Ames. A five-year agreement goes into effect in 2027.

Des Moines has hosted state since 1963 at Veterans Memorial Auditorium and Wells Fargo Arena.

“On behalf of Iowa State University, thank you to the IHSAA board, Tom Keating, and Tom’s staff for deciding to bring the Athletic Association’s state basketball tournament to Ames to experience Hilton Magic,” Iowa State Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said in a press release. “We are excited to host this great event and our staff looks forward to working with the IHSAA to make this special for the athletes, coaches and fans whose teams reach the state tournament each year.”

“This has nothing to do with anything that was wrong in Des Moines. It doesn’t,” Keating said in a phone interview. “We just felt Hilton was a great venue. With the great success that Iowa State has had, there is a lot of excitement around Iowa State basketball. With CyTown opening in 2027, we felt like his would be a good experience for our fans ... We just think it’ll bring a lot of excitement. For the kids to play in the same venue that the Iowa State guys do will drum up some enthusiasm.”

Keating said IHSAA Assistant Executive Director Todd Tharp, the association’s basketball administrator, had initial conversations with Iowa State University this past fall. Pollard was receptive to hosting, and things went from there.

From a logistical standpoint, obviously Ames still is in the middle of the state. Though it seats over 14,000, Hilton Coliseum will provide more of an intimate environment.

And, here’s a big thing for fans, parking will be plentiful and, Keating said, likely free. The city of Des Moines charges $12 to park in the Wells Fargo Arena lot.

Ticket prices for the state tournament are expected to remain similar.

“We were a little surprised when (Iowa State) said ‘You know what, we could make this schedule work,’” Keating said. “Then we had some discussions internally and with our board. My position was that we’re either interested in this or we’re not ... We just wanted to be in the best spot that we could for our young people. What it came down to was this: we think Hilton is a great basketball venue.

“Let’s give this thing a shot, and see how it goes.”

Keating was quick to point out the association still has a great relationship with Des Moines and those who run Wells Fargo Arena. The IHSAA will continue to host its state wrestling tournament at the venue.

A plan was discussed to make the state tournament a final four-only event in each class, with what are now substate final games and state tourney quarterfinal games played at satellite locations around the state, but Keating said coaches did not like the idea. The boys’ state basketball tournament went from a six-day to five-day (Monday through Friday) event in 2018.

The IHSAA has been busy. Last week it announced it has partnered with Iowa PBS to televise many of its state finals, including football, basketball and wrestling, for free beginning next school year.

“Sometimes when you make a change, there are two parts to it, right?” Keating said. “There is the excitement about heading to where you are headed. Then there’s a little bit of angst for leaving somewhere that has been very good to you. So that’s the combination. I get that some folks feel like we should have stayed in Des Moines, not leave Des Moines.

“But we feel like this will give our kids a great experience, and we’re ready to move with it.”

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