The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) has announced that Springfield will be the host city for the 2018-2022 Boys & Girls State Basketball Championships and 2016 State Football Championships. The decision will end, for the time being, the “Show-Me Bowl” at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, and the “Show-Me Showdown” at the University of Missouri – Columbia.
In a competitive bid process, bids were submitted by the Springfield Sports Commission and the Convention & Visitors Bureau with facilities at Missouri State University (MSU) serving as the venues. The basketball championships will be at JQH Arena and Hammons Student Center and football at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
“Missouri State University is thrilled to be selected as the host site for Missouri’s premier high school state championship events,” said Missouri State Director of Athletics Kyle Moats. “This has certainly a collaborative effort between the City of Springfield, Convention & Visitors Bureau, Springfield Sports Commission and the University, and we are proud these events have finally returned to Springfield and the great facilities on our campus. We look forward to serving as the hosts for high school basketball and football fans across the state.”
During the five years the basketball championships are in Springfield, more than 40,000 people will attend the events each year. Attendance at the football event will be about 25,000 people this fall.
Columbia hosted State Basketball Championship events for boys from 1973 through 1988 and 1992 to present and for girls from 1980 through 1988 and 1992 to present.
Springfield has hosted the State Basketball Championships at the following venues:
- Central High School – 1939, 1943-1945
- McDonald Arena – 1941, 1942, 1947-1950, 1956 and 1964
- Hammons Student Center – 1983, 1985-1991 (Boys & Girls)
The Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis has hosted the football championships since 1996. Springfield last hosted the football event in 1995 at the Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex at Missouri State University.
Springfield has hosted football at the following venues:
- John F. Kennedy Stadium in 1968
- Briggs Stadium/Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex 1971 and 1988-1995
