By Staff
EAST LANSING – The Convocation Center on the campus of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti will become the home to the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Girls Basketball Semifinals and Finals for a minimum of two years beginning with the 2007 tournament.
The Convocation Center opened in 1998, and has seating available for 8,824 spectators. The building is the home to Eastern Michigan University basketball teams, and located adjacent to Rynearson Stadium, the school's football and track and field facility. There are approximately 1,000 parking spaces adjacent to the building, and many more just across the street. The building has previously served as a Quarterfinal venue for the MHSAA Girls Volleyball Tournament.
The Girls Basketball Semifinals and Finals will finish a three-year run this Fall at the Breslin Student Events Center on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. Following the 2006 event, the Breslin Center's schedule conflicts with the tournament schedule, necessitating the need for a new venue. In relocating to the Convocation Center, MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts says the Association has found a wonderful home.
"People will find the Convocation Center to be perfect fit for our Finals," Roberts said. "It's the right size. It's classy. It's primarily a basketball arena with an intimate atmosphere and great sightlines."
The Convocation Center will become the ninth site to host all four games of the Girls Basketball Finals. In 1973, the first year of the MHSAA tournament, four separate high school sites were used in Grand Blanc, East Kentwood, Owosso and Alma. From 1974 to 1976, the site was East Kentwood High School.
The finals were then played from 1977 to 1980 at Jenison Field House on the MSU campus; in 1981 and 1982 at Calihan Hall on the campus of the University of Detroit-Mercy; from 1983 to 1985 at Read Field House at Western Michigan University; from 1986 to 1989 at the Grand Valley State University Field House in Allendale; Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek hosted the event from 1990 to 1996; and Rose Arena on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant was the venue from 1997 to 2003.