NYSPHSAA Boys Basketball Returns to Visions Veterans Memorial Arena for the First Time Since 2019

The Championship Preview, Presented by Upstate New York Hotel Marketing Association

3/18/2025 1:39:12 PM

By: Emily Iannotta, Spring 2025 Intern

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Boys Basketball State Championships will return to Visions Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton for the first time since 2019. It will take place from Thursday, March 20th through Sunday, March 23rd.

“Section IV and the community are very excited to host this event once again,” said Jeff Baier, NYSPHSAA Tournament Director. “We have a great arena and crew of volunteers who are ready to roll out the red carpet and provide a great experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

Visions Veterans Memorial Arena last hosted from 2017-19 following 38 consecutive years (1981-2016) at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. Glens Falls then won back the bid from 2022-24, and just last year Binghamton earned the event for a new bid term through the 2027 season. (No event was held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.) From 1978-80, Rochester hosted the boys basketball state championships.

Both girls and boys basketball state tournaments are in their second year of six classifications which has extended the tournament to a Thursday through Sunday event for a total of 18 games at each site. Over those four days, 24 teams will compete in each tournament in semifinal and finals with champions crowned Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday morning when the finals take place.

The 2024 Class A Champion Glens Falls (2) and Class C Champion Moravia (IV) return to this year’s tournament to try to defend their titles.  The 2023 Class A Champion Tappan Zee (I) has also qualified for the first time in two years. Moravia and Binghamton High School are the only two Section IV teams to win their regionals to advance to the tournament.

There will be six sessions of tournament play over four days. Tickets can be purchased ONLY online on GoFan. The cost is $12 for each session (includes fees). Suites are also available at Visions Veterans Memorial Arena by contacting NYSPHSAA Director of Marketing Chris Joyce.

The event will be streamed on the NFHS Network, official broadcasting partner of the NYSPHSAA State Championships.