Jonesboro wants 2013 state basketball finals at ASU

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Activities Association’s 19-member board of directors heard proposals from Jonesboro and Hot Springs regarding high school state basketball tournaments during the first day of its annual summer workshop Tuesday morning in North Little Rock.

Summit Arena in Hot Springs has hosted the state finals since 2007, but can’t next year because of a dates conflict with the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, which is also played there.

Jonesboro bid for only the 2013 tournament (March 7-9), with the games to be played at Arkansas State University’s Convocation Center.

The bid also included the first $70,000 in ticket sales going to the Convocation Center, with all ticket sales exceeding that amount returned to the AAA.

Hot Springs’ bid was for three years (2014, 2015 and 2016) and included 100 percent of the gate paid to the AAA and waiving the rental of Summit Arena and staffing of the three-day event, estimated at around $45,000.

The board is scheduled to hear a third and final proposal today, a joint venture between Little Rock and North Little Rock.

North Little Rock’s Alltel Arena (now Verizon Arena) hosted the state finals in 2004-2006.

AAA Executive Director Lance Taylor said he doesn’t know what venue Little Rock/North Little Rock officials will push in today’s proposal.

UALR’s Jack Stephens Center could be a possibility, he said.

In other business, the board granted a waiver to a new technology high school that could open in Rogers during the 2013-2014 school year, Taylor said.

Students who attend the new high school will be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities at their resident school, either Rogers High School or Rogers Heritage High School.

The board also gave the AAA the green light to begin scrolling scores of state championship tournament events on its web site, beginning this fall; extended the contract of Image One, the AAA’s official merchandise vendor, for another three years; and awarded Bryant the state spirit competition for the upcoming school year.