UIL State Basketball Tournaments Moving to San Antonio Alamodome
Media Contact: Kate Hector
Phone: 512-471-5883
Email:
Date: Jul 15, 2014
Category: Athletics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUSTIN— The 2015 University Interscholastic League Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments will be played at the Alamodome in San Antonio the UIL announced Tuesday.
The change comes as a result of UIL staff seeking a solution to the difficulties with availability and affordability of hotels caused by concurrent events in Austin.
In June, UIL staff asked for guidance from the UIL Legislative Council as it related to the basketball state tournament venue. The council authorized staff to move the basketball state tournaments to San Antonio in 2015. The Alamodome has worked with UIL staff to finalize arrangements for the upcoming girls and boys basketball state tournaments.
“The decision to move the basketball state tournaments has been a difficult one,” said UIL Executive Director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “The tournaments have enjoyed a rich tradition in Austin, but in order to provide the best experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans, it is best to move the UIL basketball state tournaments to another excellent venue in Texas, the San Antonio Alamodome.”
The first UIL Basketball State Tournament was played in Austin in 1921. Gregory Gym on the University of Texas at Austin campus began hosting the boys tournament beginning in 1931, and the girls tournament was added in 1951. The Frank Erwin Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus has hosted the boys and girls state basketball tournaments since 1978.
"The Alamodome has a proven history of hosting high-profile championship sporting events,” said Michael Sawaya, San Antonio Convention & Sports Facilities Director. “We look forward to welcoming to San Antonio the many student-athletes, families, and fans to the 2015 State Championship Basketball Tournaments, and are honored to have been selected to host this great event.”
The girls basketball state tournament will take place March 5-7, 2015 and the boys tournament will be March 12-14. Details about ticket sales will be forthcoming.
“We’re thrilled the UIL has chosen San Antonio to host one of the state’s premier high school championships,” said Casandra Matej, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau Director. “From NCAA Final Fours to the Spurs’ march to a fifth NBA crown last month, San Antonio has proven to be a championship city when it comes to basketball. We look forward to providing another unforgettable experience for players, fans and officials at the 2015 UIL State Basketball Tournaments.”
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