Staff report
The Indiana High School Athletic Association announced Friday that the 86th Annual IHSAA Wrestling State Finals will be contested at the Ford Center in Evansville.
This will be the first time the city of Evansville has hosted an IHSAA State Finals event in any sport.
The regularly scheduled dates of next year’s state finals are Friday and Saturday, February 16-17, 2024. Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, which has hosted the state finals every year since it opened in 2000, will be home to the 2024 NBA All-Star Game on the same weekend.
The Ford Center, which has an approximate capacity of 11,000, is in downtown Evansville and has served as host of the Evansville Wrestling Semi-State for 11 of the last 12 years since opening in 2011.
“We’re extremely pleased and grateful to the city of Evansville for their willingness to host the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals — one of our premier events every year,” said IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig. “Evansville has an impeccable reputation for hosting amateur athletic competitions and we are very confident this will be a great and memorable experience for everyone who attends. Evansville stands ready for this opportunity to host this event and share their hospitality with the rest of the state.”
The IHSAA reached out to other venues in the state with the necessarily specific availability, capacity, infrastructure, and willingness to host this event and the Ford Center was found to be the most compatible.
“We are elated that Evansville has been selected to host the 2024 IHSAA State Wrestling tournament,” said Lloyd Winnecke, Mayor of Evansville. “We eagerly await the opportunity to roll out the red carpet for student-athletes and spectators. The remarkable Ford Center will serve as a dynamic host venue, and we are confident that visitors will enjoy our thriving downtown, and all the amenities and hospitality our great city has to offer.”
The last time the IHSAA state wrestling tournament left Indianapolis was in 1985, which was also the last time the city hosted the NBA All-Star Game.
Prior to Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Market Square Arena hosted the state wrestling tournament from 1980 to 2000. In 1985, when MSA hosted the all-star game, the wrestling tournament moved to New Castle Fieldhouse.
From 1960-80, Southport Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis, in hosted the tournament.
From 1996-2012, the IHSAA hosted team and individual tournaments. While the individual tournament was held at MSA and later Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the team dual tournament was hosted by Southport (1996) and Center Grove High School (1997-2012) in Greenwood.
From 1950-59, the tournament alternated years in Bloomington and Lafayette.
