Boys state basketball tourney coming to Hilton Coliseum in 2027

Jason Bell of Johnston-based Elite Glass and Metal polishes newly installed cardinal-colored glass Monday in the Scheman Building's east second floor area, branded as Johnny's at Scheman. In addition to CyTown components that will be in place by 2027, renovated spaces in Scheman were part of the athletics department's pitch to host the boys state basketball tournament. The renovated spaces in Scheman are available to the public for rent. Contact Brian Honnold or Brooke Mease, who work in event planning for the athletics department, to get started. Photos by Christopher Gannon.

A century after playing championships in State Gymnasium, the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) announced March 18 the tradition will return to campus. IHSAA and Iowa State enter a new era when the IHSAA State Boys Basketball Tournament moves to James H. Hilton Coliseum in 2027.

An initial five-year agreement, with support from Discover Ames, will locate the five-day, 32-team boys tournament inside Hilton Coliseum. The multi-use CyTown district under development at the Iowa State Center also is slated to come online in 2027.

"We couldn't be more excited about what this opportunity will offer our student-athletes, schools and supporters as they experience an elite basketball environment at Hilton and an awesome new tournament community in CyTown and Ames," said IHSAA executive director Tom Keating. "Our sincere appreciation goes to everyone who has helped make this possible at Iowa State University, Discover Ames and Cyclone athletics."

Lauded as one of the nation's finest college basketball venues with a capacity of 14,267, Hilton Coliseum boasts consistently strong attendance for the Cyclones' men's and women's basketball programs, which annually rank among the national leaders in home attendance.

The former Stage Door lounge at Scheman overlooks Lincoln Way.

ISU will make facilities at Hilton Coliseum and the updated Scheman Building available for the IHSAA event. Hilton opened in 1971, and the athletics department installed a new state-of-the-art video board, LED ribbon boards and audio system ahead of the 2024-25 season and also completed upgrades to the team locker rooms. The Scheman Building is in the midst of a renovation that has created new hospitality spaces for Cyclone contests and other special events.

The surrounding CyTown district -- expected to be up and running in 2027 -- will feature space for retail, food and beverage, common areas and a 200-room Marriott hotel, The Cardinal.

"On behalf of Iowa State University, thank you to the IHSAA board, Tom Keating and Tom's staff for deciding to bring the athletic association's state basketball tournament to Ames to experience Hilton Magic," said director of athletics Jamie Pollard. "We are excited to host this great event, and our staff looks forward to working with the IHSAA to make this special for the athletes, coaches and fans whose teams reach the state tournament each year."

"This is a major win for Iowa State University and our communities' hotels and restaurants," he added. "It is a great example of the new economic opportunities that CyTown can bring to the Ames community. This will be the first of many such opportunities our community will have in future years, because of the university's investment in CyTown."

IHSAA basketball brings eight qualifiers from each of four size classifications to the state tournament. Since moving to a five-day format in 2018, the event has averaged nearly 50,000 paid attendees annually.

"We are super excited to partner with Iowa State Athletics and the IHSAA to bring the State Basketball Tournament to Ames and Hilton Coliseum starting in 2027," said Discover Ames President and CEO Kevin Bourke. "This weeklong event will expose teams and fans from across the state to Iowa State University, as well as create a huge economic impact to Ames while showcasing our wonderful community."

Ames hosted the IHSAA's basketball tournament six times between 1917 and 1926, all at then-Iowa State College's State Gym. The last edition featured a small-school round robin, with Irwin topping Keystone, Grandview and Lake View for the 1926 Class B title.

The IHSAA concluded its 2025 championships March 14 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, where the tournament has been hosted since 1963.

"We have great relationships in Des Moines and at Iowa Events Center, and we thank them for all their years of support and their continued work in hosting our events," Keating said.