UD Arena, Nutter Center Host OHSAA's Return to Final Four Experience

High school basketball tournaments draw over 97,000 fans to the Miami Valley

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:05pm

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The Ohio High School Athletic Association's boys and girls state basketball tournaments returned to a 'Final Four experience' in the Miami Valley, with University of Dayton Arena and Wright State University's Nutter Center hosting a combined 42 state tournament games over two weeks. The events drew over 97,000 fans and received glowing reviews from participating schools and fans.

Why it matters

Hosting the high school basketball state tournaments is an important community event that provides a 'Final Four experience' for student-athletes and generates economic activity for the local area. The OHSAA's decision to return to this format after experimenting with a different model highlights the value of the traditional tournament experience.

The details

The OHSAA boys and girls state basketball tournaments were held at UD Arena, which hosted 24 games annually from 2021-2024, and the Nutter Center, which hosted 18 semifinal games this year. The events featured smooth operations, friendly staff, and a welcoming atmosphere that the OHSAA and host venues prioritized to make the communities feel at home.

  • The tournaments were held over a two-week stretch from March 12 to March 22, 2026.
  • UD Arena has hosted tournament games for decades, including Fairmont's comeback win over Princeton in the girls Division I state championship game on March 14, 2026.

The players

Doug Ute

OHSAA Executive Director, who said the events provided a 'Final Four experience' for student-athletes and received positive feedback from participating schools and fans.

Scott DeBolt

Executive Director of UD Arena, which has hosted countless memorable high school basketball finishes over the years.

Joseph Dick

Wright State's associate director of facilities and operations at the Nutter Center, which hosted 18 state semifinal games.

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What they’re saying

“You witnessed it right there. That's why we host them. We're a basketball facility that really enjoys serving the community. That's what UD Arena was originally built for.”

— Scott DeBolt, Executive Director of UD Arena

“We had really good crowds. You never know when you're hosting these kind of tournaments. As I used to say, some schools close the town down, roll up the sidewalks and everybody comes, and then some, you know, just family and friends come.”

— Joseph Dick, Wright State's associate director of facilities and operations at the Nutter Center

“From the people who park you to the people who you meet when you enter to the concession people, the whole thing — everybody is so friendly. It's that service with a smile type of thing. That's so important to us, that our communities feel welcome and they certainly do at those places.”

— Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director

What’s next

The OHSAA plans to continue hosting the boys and girls state basketball tournaments at UD Arena and the Nutter Center in the coming years, providing student-athletes with the 'Final Four experience' that coaches and players have requested.

The takeaway

The successful return of the OHSAA's state basketball tournaments to the Miami Valley highlights the importance of providing a premier event experience for high school student-athletes. The collaboration between the OHSAA, UD Arena, and the Nutter Center created an atmosphere that was welcoming to the local community and generated economic activity, demonstrating the value of hosting marquee high school sports events.