State Basketball Crowds Soar at Tacoma Dome, Best Attendance in Nearly a Decade

Three factors likely contributed to the 26 percent surge from last year.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 6:07pm

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The 2026 state basketball tournaments at the Tacoma Dome drew the largest crowds in nearly a decade, with 34,540 fans attending the 3A and 4A events. This represents a 26% increase from the previous year's attendance of 27,410. Three key factors contributed to the surge: the presence of top national recruit Tyran Stokes playing for Rainier Beach, the hometown Lincoln High School team making the 3A championship game, and strong fan support for Richland High School in the 4A final.

Why it matters

The spike in attendance at the Tacoma Dome for the state basketball tournaments highlights the continued popularity of high school sports in Washington, as well as the drawing power of top talent and hometown teams. It also demonstrates the Tacoma Dome's ability to host large-scale sporting events and the community's enthusiasm for supporting their local teams.

The details

The 34,540 fans who attended the 3A and 4A state basketball tournaments at the Tacoma Dome represented a 26% increase from the previous year's attendance of 27,410. This was the best attendance at the Tacoma Dome for the state basketball tournaments in nearly a decade, with the last time the WIAA selling more tickets being in 2017 when the Nathan Hale squad led by Michael Porter Jr. was the talk of the town.

  • The 2026 state basketball tournaments took place last weekend at the Tacoma Dome.
  • In 2025, the Tacoma Dome drew 27,410 fans for the state basketball tournaments.

The players

Tyran Stokes

A senior at Rainier Beach High School and the nation's top-rated basketball recruit, who transferred from California and led the Vikings to back-to-back 3A state titles.

Mike Bethea

The longtime head coach of the Rainier Beach High School boys basketball team, who earned his 10th state championship this year.

Lincoln High School

The hometown team from Tacoma that advanced to the 3A state championship game, drawing a large local crowd to the Tacoma Dome.

Richland High School

The 4A state champion, whose large and boisterous student section was a major factor in the increased attendance.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The WIAA will look to build on this year's strong attendance numbers and continue to attract large crowds to the state basketball tournaments at the Tacoma Dome in the coming years.

The takeaway

The surge in attendance at the Tacoma Dome for the 2026 state basketball tournaments underscores the enduring popularity of high school sports in Washington, as well as the ability of top talent, hometown teams, and passionate fan bases to drive excitement and engagement around these marquee events.