Cedar Rapids granted big-school portion of the 2024 Iowa high school state baseball tournament

CEDAR RAPIDS — It’s official. Cedar Rapids is getting a slice of the state baseball tournament pie.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced Monday that Veterans Memorial Stadium will host the Class 3A and 4A portions of the 2024 tourney.

Carroll again will be the 1A-2A host. The tournament is scheduled for July 22-26.

“We’re excited to be in Cedar Rapids in 2024 with an excellent facility, staff, and community welcoming our schools and student-athletes,” IHSAA assistant director and baseball administrator Andy Umthun said. “We sincerely appreciate this competitive bidding process, which shows the commitment that several Iowa communities and ballparks have to high school baseball in our state.”

The contract with Cedar Rapids is for one year. This will be the first time since 1974 Cedar Rapids will host state baseball.

Sioux City also put in a bid. Principal Park in Des Moines was the longtime home of the entire tournament but stopped being so after the 2020 season.

Banks Field in Iowa City hosted the 3A-4A portion of the tournament the past three years but renovations to the facility following the University of Iowa’s 2024 season make it unavailable.

“The Cedar Rapids Kernels are thrilled to have the opportunity to host the 2024 3A-4A state baseball championships,” said Kernels CEO Doug Nelson. “We are confident that the student-athletes, school administrators, fans, and media will have a wonderful experience at Veterans Memorial Stadium.”

“I think it is awesome that they are going to be able to play the tournament in a professional venue,” said Marion Coach Steve Fish. “The Kernels management team takes great pride in the facility, and I am confident they will host a great series. We certainly enjoyed playing at both Principal Park and Duane Banks ... and this will give participants a similar experience.”

The Gazette reported in late July that the city had made a proposal to take on part of the state baseball tournament, but the availability of Veterans Memorial Stadium was contingent on the 2024 Kernels schedule. The Midwest League club recently learned that schedule, compiled by Major League Baseball, which runs the minor leagues, setting the wheels in motion for Monday’s announcement.

It is unclear if Cedar Rapids has future interest in the tournament.

“We were thrilled to get the news the IHSAA 3A-4A state tournament will be coming to Cedar Rapids next summer,” said Jay Fanta, Sports Tourism Director for the Cedar Rapids Tourism Office. “Veterans Memorial Stadium is going to be a great venue for this event, and we are excited to welcome the teams and fans that will be traveling to Cedar Rapids that week. At this time, we have not begun looking beyond 2024.”

The IHSAA also announced Monday that Grand View Christian in Des Moines has requested and been granted the opportunity for its boys’ basketball team play in Class 2A this season and next season. The Thunder were last year’s 1A state champion, beating North Linn.

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