WIAA and UW Extend Facilities Agreement

MADISON, Wis. -- The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the University of Wisconsin agreed  to a seven-year contract extension that grants the WIAA availability to campus facilities for hosting high school State championships in boys basketball, football, golf, wrestling and softball through the spring of 2020 in an announcement made at a media conference today.

The agreement recognizes the mutual commitment to work together in providing memorable experiences for participating student-athletes and spectators attending WIAA State events. In addition to recognizing the best high school talent and teams in the state, the tournaments showcase a number of the state’s finest facilities, the UW campus and the City of Madison.

The cooperative efforts and partnerships with UW Athletics, the UW Chancellor’s Office, the City of Madison Mayor’s Office, the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau, Dane County, local business and media outlets have contributed to recognizing Madison as one of the premier destinations and locations for WIAA State Tournaments. In 2011-12, WIAA State Tournaments in Madison drew a paid attendance of 237,214 and thousands of additional participants, coaches and school administrators.

The Kohl Center has been the site of the State Boys Basketball Tournament and the State Individual Wrestling Tournament since 1998 when the facility was opened. With the exception of 1936, the boys basketball tournament has been held in Madison since 1920, and the wrestling championships have been conducted there since 1949. The UW Field House has been the site of the State Team Wrestling Championship Tournament since it moved from West Allis in 2005.

Camp Randall Stadium has been home to the WIAA State Football Finals since 1982, and University Ridge has served as host of the girls and boys State Golf Championships since 1994, with the exception of the girls tournament this fall because of course renovations. Goodman Diamond has hosted the State Softball Championship Tournament since it moved from Waukesha in 2002.

The WIAA State Boys and Girls Swimming and Diving Tournaments, as well as the State Girls and Boys Team and Individual Tennis Tournaments are also held on the UW campus, but are not associated with this agreement. Those event and venue agreements are with UW Recreation Sports.

The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 507 senior high schools and 80 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 25 championship tournament series.

 
Written by WIAA Communications