FORDHAM UNIVERSITY WINS FEDERATION BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BID FOR 2020-22
CENTRAL VALLEY, NY – The New York State Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations (NYSFSSAA) has officially announced the Basketball Tournament of Champions will be heading downstate to Fordham University for a new three-year term beginning March 27th – 29th 2020. The Federation’s Executive Committee voted to accept the proposal submitted by Fordham which proposes to conduct the statewide tournament at the Rose Hill Gymnasium through March 2022. This will be the first time that the tournament will be hosted in New York City.
Presentations to host the Basketball Tournament of Champions were made yesterday at the Monroe Woodbury School District’s Education Center by representatives of Fordham University, Greater Glens Falls Basketball Amateur Athletic Association, and St. John’s University. In addition to the PSAL, members from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), Catholic School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and the New York State Alliance of Independent Schools Athletic Association (AISAA) heard presentations and cast their votes.
“After a good discussion following each presentation, the vote taken by the Executive Committee supports a new direction for the Federation Tournament,” said Donal Buckley, Federation President. “All three organizations presented solid bids and were ready to host a quality event for us. However, Fordham’s historic gym and location in the city convinced the committee.”
The vote accepting Fordham’s proposal was based on a combination of factors, primarily the opportunity to maximize attendance downstate where 70% of participating teams come from. The Federation expects that bringing the tournament to New York City will significantly impact attendance and feel it can capitalize on that with sponsorship opportunities. Fordham’s presentation included a marketing and sponsorship plan working with the Public Private Network (PPN). The Rose Hill Gymnasium and Vincent T. Lombardi Memorial Center (adjoining practice building) on the Fordham campus, located in the Bronx, also have several necessary amenities for the event. Furthermore, Fordham’s athletic staff has experience hosting Division I college basketball games and the CHSAA girls and boys championships.
The bidding procedure used to determine the host site for the Tournament of Champions was first put into place by the NYSFSSAA in 2004. Glens Falls was successful in securing the first tournament bids from 2004-2006, then again from 2007-2009 at the Cool Insuring Arena. From 1981 to 2009 it was held in Glens Falls. In 1979, Syracuse hosted the event (boys only at the time) then in 1980 Rochester was the host. Meanwhile, the Girls Federation Basketball tournament was first held in 1982 at a number of different sites before moving to Glens Falls in 1995 and Albany in 2011. Albany hosted both boys and girls from 2011-2016, followed by a return to Glens Falls for 2017-2019.
Teams from the PSAL, NYSPHSAA, CHSAA, and AISAA annually compete for the title of New York State champion at the Federation tournament. The majority of participating schools qualifying for the tournament are located in the New York City and Long Island areas. The remainder of the teams hail from upstate New York. A total of 11 girls teams and 12 boys teams participate in the Tournament of Champions all vying to be crowned New York State Champion.