MOLINE, ILLINOIS (April 25, 2024) — The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) has announced sites for the next three years of the Hoops in the Heartland Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament.
The Conference will adopt a rotating cycle of hosting cities, with Evansville, Indiana (Ford Center) hosting the 2025 tournament, Iowa City/Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena), in 2026, and returning to Moline, Illinois (Vibrant Arena at The MARK) in 2027. Officials say the rotation will allow the Conference to gain national brand visibility in new communities while allowing student-athletes to experience new venues. The event has been held at the Vibrant Arena at The MARK since 2016, the longest-standing hosting venue in the tournament’s history.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors and professional team, we look forward to hosting the Missouri Valley Women’s Basketball Tournament in 2027,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. “We have always prided ourselves on serving and prioritizing student-athletes, which will continue to be our focus. Hoops in the Heartland continues to fulfill our mission and drive value for our region’s sports tourism goals.”
Recognizing the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics, Herrell expressed respect for the Conference's decision to rotate the tournament during the next contract cycle. He added, “We're ready to offer our support and expertise to our colleagues in Evansville and Iowa City/Coralville.”
In 2024, the Missouri Valley Conference, along with the ACC, A-10, Big East, Pac-12, and SEC, was one of only six conferences where the women’s-basketball championship was played at a neutral site, separate from the men’s championship and on a different weekend.
Beyond the excitement of the competition, the tournament brings substantial economic growth to the Quad Cities, with the 2023 event alone generating a local economic impact of $1.9 million, underscoring the importance of regional sports tourism.
About Visit Quad Cities
Founded in 1990, Visit Quad Cities is the region's official destination management and marketing organization (DMMO). Visit Quad Cities is a private 501(c)(6) non-profit engine that drives economic opportunity through tourism, builds our authentic brand, tells, and sells the Quad Cities story, and enhances Quad Citizens’ quality of life and place.
