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March 7, 2022
Contacts:
- Lance Kettering, Springfield Sports Commission Executive Director, lkettering@springfieldmo.org, 417-881-5300 ext. 106
- Susan Wade, Convention & Visitors Bureau Public Relations Manager, swade@springfieldmo.org, 417-799-0401 (office), 417-830-0645 (cell)
MSHSAA Basketball Championships Begin Thursday in Springfield
Springfield, Missouri – The Missouri State High School Activities Association state basketball championships will be in Springfield March 10-12 and 17-19. The tournament attendance is slated to be 36,000 to 40,000 total for both weekends of the event and 5,000-6,000 room nights at the city’s hotels. Attendees are expected to spend about $2.5 million in Springfield during the tournament.
“March is electric for hoops fans in our region,” said Lance Kettering, executive director of the Springfield Sports Commission. “We are proud to host the event and look forward to hosting the 48 teams who will travel to Springfield in hopes of winning a state title for their school and community. The atmosphere and spirit of the players, fans and coaches make this a must-watch event and we welcome everyone to take in the action during both weekends of the Show-Me-Showdown at JQH Arena and Hammons Student Center.
The tournament, along with many other MSHSAA competitions, was extended into 2022 due to pandemic-related changes and cancellations of events that occurred in 2020. In efforts to curtail the spread of the virus causing the pandemic, MSHSAA’s spring 2020 sports and scholar bowl seasons were lost; basketball, music and speech and debate were truncated; and significant modifications were made to all sports and activity seasons during the 2020-21 school year.
“We are very excited to see all the smiling faces again this year at the Show-Me Showdown,” said Kerwin Urhahn, MSHSAA executive director. “The staff at Missouri State University has always been great to work with and the overall hospitality of Springfield really helps make this event a shining star.”
Another basketball tournament, The National Christian HomeSchool Basketball Championships, will be in Springfield March 14-18. Over 350 teams will attend and is estimated to bring in 8,000 room nights. Attendees are expected to spend about $4.2 million while in the city.
For more information about amateur sports events booked in the city by the Springfield Sports Commission, visit www.SpringfieldMo.org/sports or call 417-881-5300. The Sports Commission is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the local economy through amateur sporting events that bring in overnight travelers. The commission is managed by the Convention & Visitors Bureau.