Throughout the history of the tournament, the organizers have sought to offer the best possible faculties to the participating teams and their fans. The 2016 State Farm Holiday Classic will be held at the following locations in Bloomington-Normal:
Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University
302 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington | directions
The Shirk Center at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) is the championship site of the State Farm Holiday Classic. This $15 million facility was funded in part by the largest contribution ever made to IWU, a $5 million gift from the Russell and Betty Shirk Foundation of Bloomington. The two-level, 135,344-square foot multipurpose complex seats 2,680 for sporting events (3,100 with standing room) in its arena, and also houses four multipurpose courts, a 200-meter track, wellness center, pool, classrooms and athletic offices. A $6.5 million two-story addition and renovation of the fitness center (completed in 2015) includes new classrooms, flooring, installation of a reusable water bottle station and several new cardiovascular machines and circuit training weight equipment.The Shirk replaced Fred Young Fieldhouse in 1994 as the basketball home of the Titans, and is also the centerpiece of one of the nation’s finest NCAA Division III athletics complex. It has also hosted the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball, Track & Field and Women’s Volleyball National Championships.
Bloomington Central Catholic High School
1201 Airport Road, Bloomington | directions
Central Catholic opened its doors in 2003 and returns this year as a host venue for the first time since hosting games from 2004-09. The gym has hosted IHSA Regionals in a variety of sports in the past, and can seat approximately 1,500 people.
Normal Community High School
3900 E Raab Rd, Normal | directions
Normal Community High School has been a tournament site of The Classic since 2005. Since opening it’s doors in 2002, the new NCHS came about because of a referendum that passed in 2000 to approve a spending budget of $73 million for new Unit 5 facilities. Both the main and auxilary gyms are used at NCHS during our tournament.
Normal Community West High School
501 N. Parkside Road, Normal | directions
Normal Community West High School has been a tournament site of The Classic since 2003. Normal West opened its doors in 1995, and the North Gym can seat approximately 2,400 people. This site has played host to numerous IHSA Sectional and Super-Sectional games for both the boys and girls state tournaments. Both the main and auxilary gyms are used at West during our tournament.