WIAA and UW extend state tournament facility agreement
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Athletics agreed to an eight-year contract extension that grants the WIAA availability of facilities to host high school state championships in boys basketball, football, boys and girls golf, individual and team wrestling and softball through the spring of 2033 in an announcement made at a media conference Tuesday.
A recent study conducted in conjunction with data shared by Destination Madison indicated the economic impact of WIAA state tournaments held in the Madison area is estimated at $22.2 million.
The agreement recognizes the mutual commitment to work together in providing memorable experiences for participating student-athletes and spectators attending WIAA state tournament events.
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 and then 2020-2021 during the pandemic, the boys basketball tournament has been played 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 tournament since 2005 with the 2020-21 exceptions.
In addition, Camp Randall Stadium has been home to the WIAA state football finals since 1982 except 2021, and University Ridge has served as host of the girls and boys state golf championships a combined 54 times since 1994.
Goodman Diamond has been the site of the state softball tournament since it moved to Madison in 2002, except 20202021.
The WIAA 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.
