CENTRAL VALLEY, NY - The New York State Federation of Secondary School Athletic Associations (NYSFSSAA) has officially announced the Basketball Tournament of Champions will return to Albany for a new three-year term starting in March 2014. The Federation's Executive Committee voted to accept the proposal submitted by the Albany County Convention and Visitor's Bureau in conjunction with both the Hotel Albany and the Times Union Center that will see the statewide tournament be played at the TU Center through March 2016. This will be the second term the tournament will be hosted in Albany.

Presentations to host the Basketball Tournament of Champions were made yesterday afternoon at the Monroe Woodbury School District's Education Center by representatives of the following municipalities:
• Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau with Crowne Plaza and Times Union Center
• City of Glens Falls, site of the boys state tournament since 1981

"After a lengthy discussion following each presentation, the vote taken by the Executive Committee supported the efforts and successful operation of the Federation Tournament by Albany for the last two years," said Walter Eaton, Federation Executive Secretary. "Both Albany and Glens Falls presented outstanding bids and were both ready to host a quality event for us. However, Albany's facility, central location, and past performance convinced the committee."

The vote accepting Albany's proposal was based on a combination of factors. Albany proved it could provide a championship atmosphere for participating schools including sponsored athlete gifts, complimentary meals and one of the top basketball arenas in the state. The Times Union Center, which has hosted NCAA Basketball and Wrestling Tournaments, MAAC Basketball Tournaments and ECAC Hockey Tournaments, was offered as the site to stage the tournament for all three years. Additionally, its local support and committee work were highly praised especially due to the aggressive marketing efforts implemented each of the last two years using social media, television, radio and Internet. The convenient location of downtown Albany hotels and restaurants along with rail, bus and interstate highway connections to assist fans attending the championship was also a major factor in the vote by the NYSFSSAA's Executive Committee.

The 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 Civic Center which was where it was held since 1981. 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 then at a number of different sites before moving to Glens Falls in 1995 Albany in 2010.

Effective 2014, Albany will start its second term to host the combined New York State Federation Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament of Champions. Teams from the New York State Association of Independent Schools Athletic Association (AISAA), Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA), New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), and the New York City Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) 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 10 girls teams and 12 boys teams participate in the Tournament of Champions all vying to be crowned New York State Champion.

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CONTACT:
Joe Altieri, Director of Marketing and Media Relations
New York State Public High School Athletic Association
8 Airport Park Boulevard
Latham, NY 12110
ph: 518.690.0771 / fax: 518.690.0775
altieri@nysphsaa.org / www.nysphsaa.org