Madison sweetens offer to keep WIAA tournaments

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Madison is stepping up efforts to keep the state boys and girls basketball tournaments and their $9 million in estimated tourism spending.

The WIAA is considering moving the tournament as early as 2013 because of the Kohl Center is unavailable to the WIAA for its preferred dates in 2013 and perhaps 2014 due to conflicts with WCHA and NCAA hockey events.

The WIAA's agreement with the Kohl Center expires in 2013.

"We want to do what it takes to make this successful," said Deb Archer, president of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. About 96,500 people attended the boys tournament and 55,000 the girls tournament last year.

Madison and Green Bay made presentations to the WIAA on Jan. 25 and continue to clarify and sweeten offer.

Madison has hosted the boys tournament for 90 of the last 91 years and the girls since its debut in 1976.

The WIAA will choose between Madison - perhaps some years at the Dane County Coliseum or the university's Field House - or moving to the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports the University of Wisconsin-Madison is pursuing options to make the Kohl Center available on the WIAA's preferred dates and hoteliers are preparing a proposal to make the event more affordable to visitors.

The city Green Bay is also making an aggressive bid. The city is ensuring the WIAA's preferred dates at the Resch Center and offering an attractive rental agreement with revenue sharing from concessions and parking, said Ken Wachter, president of PMI Entertainment Group, which manages the Resch Center.

Green Bay guarantees there will be no two-night minimums for hotel rooms. Officials there have also turned to the Packers, who might host breakfast for coaches and players at Lambeau Field and arrange events with Packer players.

UW-Madison is working to persuade the Big Ten use neutral sites for the first two rounds of the conference hockey tournament. The tournament is now scheduled for on-campus venues when the league's inaugural season playoffs begin in 2014.

The WIAA wants a quality facility for its preferred dates and to contain costs for attendees, executive director Dave Anderson said.

"I don't think there's any single element in either package that says, `Wow, this is where it needs to be,"' Anderson said. "The WIAA Board next meets on March 2, but a vote could be done by conference call in mid-February."