State Basketball Championships Moving from Lakeland to Jacksonville

Championship Relocation

• 🏀 The Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships, after decades in Lakeland, will now be hosted in Jacksonville.
• 📍 This significant event, which draws tens of thousands of visitors, will move to the University of North Florida's arena.

Impact on Lakeland Businesses

• 📉 A downtown Lakeland business owner, Abby Starky, expressed concern about the move's negative impact on local businesses, especially those still recovering from economic challenges.
• 🛍️ Starky highlighted that events like the championships are a crucial driver for businesses like her restaurant, The Chop Shop, which has been operating in Lakeland for nearly two decades.
• 🤝 She emphasized that businesses and the RP Funding Center have mutually contributed to downtown's success.

FHSAA Statement and Future Outlook

• 🗣️ The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) stated that the move to an NCAA Division 1 facility in Jacksonville offers student athletes a better playing environment and contributes to creating lifetime memories.
• 🌱 Starky hopes that Lakeland will attract new and exciting events to compensate for the departure of the championships, bringing new people and energy to the city.
• 🗓️ The move to Jacksonville is set to begin with the 2026 event.