The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and the University of Wisconsin athletic department announced Tuesday an eight-year contract extension that grants the WIAA use of UW facilities to host high school state championships in six sports through spring 2033.
According to an announcement on the UW athletics website, the sports include boys' basketball, football, boys' and girls' golf, individual and team wrestling, and softball.
The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It is sponsoring 30 state tournaments in 2024-25.
In 2023-24, WIAA state tournaments at UW facilities drew a paid attendance of more than 196,000, with thousands of additional participants, coaches and school administrators. 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.
"It is a thrill for UW Athletics, our campus and our city to play host to the state's top high school student-athletes, coaches and staff members each year," UW director of athletics Chris McIntosh said. "I am very pleased that we will be welcoming teams and their fans to Madison for years to come and I appreciate the partnership we have with Stephanie Hauser and the WIAA."
"Chris McIntosh and his entire staff have conveyed the importance of showcasing the WIAA Championships on their campus, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in serving the member schools and their student-athletes," WIAA executive director Stephanie Hauser said.
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. 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 Championship Tournament since it moved to Madison in 2002 (except 2020-2021).
The WIAA State Girls' and Boys' Team and Individual Tennis Tournaments are also held on the UW campus, but through an agreements are with UW Recreation Sports.
