OSSAA moving State tournament to Jim Norick Arena

By Jonathan Jackson

Midwest City Beacon

The Big House will get a big send off

Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) announced that all state  high school basketball tournament games will be played at Jim Norick Arena in Oklahoma City for the 2024-25 school year.

Every school that qualifies for the state tournament will play tournament games at Jim Norick Arena that is known as the Big House. Traditionally, Jim Norick Arena has hosted smaller school state tournaments, while Classes 5A and 6A have been played at the University of Oklahoma and Oral Roberts in recent years.

Jim Norick Arena will be replaced by a new facility – which will be called the OG&E Coliseum. The new arena is being built adjacent to the current one at the State

Fairgrounds and is slated to open in 2025.

Many players and coaches in the Mid-Del district are excited to play at a new site for a new feel of state championship basketball. Last year, all six Mid-Del teams advanced to

The state tournament including the Midwest City boys won the 5A state title.

The state tournament games will take place March 4-8 for Classes B, A and 2A. As well as games for Classes 3A- 6A will be held March 10-15.

“ We’ve been extremely lucky to play at ORU and OU for mid-del schools,but playing in the Big House is one of the coolest things ever and I am stoked for it,” said Andy Collier, Mid-Del executive director of athletics and student activities.

In the past few years OSSAA has split up state tournament games where different schools based on classification would have to travel to many different sites around the state causing many teams to travel further distances than others. With all state tournament games being played at one site will help with logistics of travel and rest for teams and players.

The Big House is known for hosting many big events that require large gatherings in the Oklahoma City area. Jim Norick arena is accessible for rodeos, concerts, graduations and sporting events.

Moving games from college campuses to Jim Norick can bring a lot of upside but also some trouble regarding logistics and scheduling of games based on the success of each team during the tournament.

“Playing in the Big House is just as big as playing on a college campus,” said Mariah Webb, head coach of Del City girls basketball.

Many players and coaches can experience a state championship basketball atmosphere when Jim Norick is full and many people from almost every local community want to stay and watch good basketball teams compete for the prize.

“I have never played or coached at the Big House, but I have watched many games there,”said Jay Price, Carl Albert boys basketball coach.  “We as a team want to be there for the last year to experience the state tournament atmosphere.”

The movement of the state tournament will bring many people in the community out to watch teams compete from across the state without much travel restrictions. The change will bring players and coaches satisfaction of the games actually being at a neutral site. The venue will bring more of a small time feel to big town basketball.