The All “A” Classic Basketball State Tournament is moving to Owensboro after being held at the Corbin Arena last year due to renovations to Eastern Kentucky University’s Alumni Coliseum. The tournament will also be held one week earlier than in previous years.

Several basketball coaches told me they had no idea about this. There has been no announcement on social media besides what I just posted on 10thRegion.com. It was quietly posted to the All A website.  

Here is the press release from the All “A” Classic and City of Owensboro:

OWENSBORO, KY – Visit Owensboro and the Kentucky All “A” Classic announced that Owensboro will host the 2025 Kentucky All “A” Classic Basketball Championships for both boys and girls. This prestigious tournament will take place January 22-26, 2025, at the historic Owensboro Sportscenter, bringing 32 of the state’s top small school teams to compete for the championship title.

The tournament will kick off on Wednesday, January 22, with the girls’ first-round games, beginning at 8:30 AM and continuing throughout the day. On Thursday, January 23, the boys’ tournament will commence with another full day of first-round matchups starting at 8:30 AM. The competition will continue into the weekend, with the quarterfinals being held on Friday, semifinals on Saturday, and both championship games taking place on Sunday, January 26. Mike Reeves, Secretary/Treasurer for the Kentucky All “A” Classic said, “We are excited to be a member of the partnership between the Kentucky All “A” Classic and Visit Owensboro. Owensboro is a great community and look forward to being there in January 2025.”

“The Kentucky All ‘A’ has been an incredible group to work with. They are a well-oiled machine with very committed members. The All ‘A’ Classic represents the smaller schools in Kentucky, and we are going to create a true championship atmosphere,” said Mark Calitri, President of Visit Owensboro.

Calitri added, “This is an incredible opportunity to introduce Owensboro’s vibrant community to athletes, fans, and school administrators from across the state of Kentucky.” The tournament is expected to bring over 32,000 fans to Owensboro and generate an economic impact of more than $1.9 million for the local community. [Redacted]

When I was in Corbin earlier this year with Holy Cross Radio I heard rumblings about it possibly moving. A few months later then heard that it was going to Owensboro for maybe one year depending on the progress of renovation at Eastern Ky University. I thought the staff at the All "A" did a great job when it was held in Corbin this year. All that being said, they could have done a much better job of getting word out.

I noticed EKU is playing home games at Berea College until about mid-January, which is when their arena is expected to be finished. I enjoyed watching it in Corbin last year and hope it moves back to EKU next year, if only because it is close to where I live!

From a media standpoint only, I loved the setup at Corbin arena. The way the staff set up elevated tables about 15-20 feet off the sidelines was really nice and internet access/hard wire connection was excellent.

Eastern Ky is a really nice venue as well but not quite as "media friendly". :-). I would expect it back at EKU in 2026.

16 minutes ago, Baseball Nut 24 said:

Eastern Ky is a really nice venue as well but not quite as "media friendly". :-). I would expect it back at EKU in 2026.

Maybe with the renovation at EKU it will be a better setup for all involved. I know the place had gotten very dated in recent years.

Also noticed on the bracket that the Thursday evening first round games for the boys is being played at Brescia College. I'm guessing Kentucky Wesleyan was already scheduled for the Sportscenter at that time. Below is a picture of the Brescia gymnasium.

https://www.allaclassic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2025-Boys-Basketball-Statewide-Brackets.pdf

I've heard since EKU joined the ASUN they have no say in when games are played there. So when EKU use to leave a week open for the All A they're no longer able to because they have no say when home games are scheduled. So I don't know if the All A will ever be played there again. Someone more in the know than me will know if this is true or not. 

Berea College would be an excellent location for the All "A" State Tournament. Another option would be somewhere in Louisville, like Freedom Hall or Bellarmine. Owensboro is just too far out of the way, in my opinion.  There are not many mid-size arenas that are centrally located.  

Owensboro Sports Center is a 3 and a half hour drive for us up here in the 9th Region/Northern Ky. I would love to see it moved somewhere a little more neutral as far as location.

On 11/12/2024 at 12:40 PM, Baseball Nut 24 said:

On 11/12/2024 at 12:20 PM, brooksville said:

Berea College would be an excellent location for the All "A" State Tournament. Another option would be somewhere in Louisville, like Freedom Hall or Bellarmine. Owensboro is just too far out of the way, in my opinion.  There are not many mid-size arenas that are centrally located.  

Owensboro Sports Center is a 3 and a half hour drive for us up here in the 9th Region/Northern Ky. I would love to see it moved somewhere a little more neutral as far as location.

For the ones in WKY that always have to drive to state events this is a welcome change. Even in far WKY this is still over a 2 hour drive to Owensboro. 

Hopefully just one and done for this venue, teams in Eastern Ky have a crazy 4-5 hour drive.

1 hour ago, nikeman49 said:

Hopefully just one and done for this venue, teams in Eastern Ky have a crazy 4-5 hour drive.

Agreed.  It's at least three hours for NKY.  I liked the RIchmond location, although I am not sure how far that was for Western Kentucky

 

1 hour ago, rjal said:

Agreed.  It's at least three hours for NKY.  I liked the RIchmond location, although I am not sure how far

2 hours ago, nikeman49 said:

Hopefully just one and done for this venue, teams in Eastern Ky have a crazy 4-5 hour drive.

that was for Western Kentucky

It is a crazy 4-5 hour drive for far WKY to drive to Richmond. 

I know it sounds selfish when eastern Kentucky schools talk about the long distance to Owensboro, particularly after the western Kentucky schools have had to drive long trips to the All A state since it’s inception in 1990. But the majority of the All A schools and fans are in eastern Kentucky. I think my region alone has 12 schools, with only 4 schools that don’t qualify for it. 

1 hour ago, The Professor said:

I know it sounds selfish when eastern Kentucky schools talk about the long distance to Owensboro, particularly after the western Kentucky schools have had to drive long trips to the All A state since it’s inception in 1990. But the majority of the All A schools and fans are in eastern Kentucky. I think my region alone has 12 schools, with only 4 schools that don’t qualify for it. 

But only 1 qualifies. The 1st Region has 9 and at one time had 12. Lost 2 to the consolidation of McCracken County and Murray is too big this year for the All A.