WIAA and UW Athletics extend State Championship facility agreement
February 25, 2025 | General News
Partnership keeps football, boys basketball, golf, wrestling and softball in Madison through spring 2033
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) and the Wisconsin Athletic Department 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.
The UW campus and the City of Madison are premier destinations and locations for WIAA State Tournaments. In 2023-24, the 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."
The agreement recognizes the mutual commitment to work together in providing memorable experiences for participating student-athletes and spectators attending WIAA State Tournament events. In addition to recognizing the best high school student-athletes and teams in the state, the tournaments showcase a number of the state's finest facilities, the UW campus and the City of Madison.
"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.Â
Many thrilling and unforgettable memories for WIAA State Tournament participants and spectators have been experienced at UW's iconic venues through the years. 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 Championship Tournament since 2005 with the 2020-2021 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 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 are not associated with this agreement. Those event and venue agreements are with UW Recreation Sports.
As defined by membership's Constitution, the WIAA is a private, voluntary, unincorporated and nonprofit organization. The association was formed in 1896 – becoming the first state high school association in the nation – after the first State Track & Field Championships were held on the UW campus in 1895.
The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 30 State Tournaments in 2024-25. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.Â
The UW campus and the City of Madison are premier destinations and locations for WIAA State Tournaments. In 2023-24, the 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."
The agreement recognizes the mutual commitment to work together in providing memorable experiences for participating student-athletes and spectators attending WIAA State Tournament events. In addition to recognizing the best high school student-athletes and teams in the state, the tournaments showcase a number of the state's finest facilities, the UW campus and the City of Madison.
"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.Â
Many thrilling and unforgettable memories for WIAA State Tournament participants and spectators have been experienced at UW's iconic venues through the years. 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 Championship Tournament since 2005 with the 2020-2021 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 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 are not associated with this agreement. Those event and venue agreements are with UW Recreation Sports.
As defined by membership's Constitution, the WIAA is a private, voluntary, unincorporated and nonprofit organization. The association was formed in 1896 – becoming the first state high school association in the nation – after the first State Track & Field Championships were held on the UW campus in 1895.
The WIAA oversees interscholastic athletic programs for 513 senior high schools and 36 junior high/middle level schools in its membership. It sponsors 30 State Tournaments in 2024-25. For more information, please contact the WIAA office at (715) 344-8580.Â
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