Big Sky basketball tournament to stay in Boise through 2031

Starch Madness will live on in Boise for many years to come, as the Big Sky Conference and its partners in Idaho’s state capital proudly announced today that they have agreed to terms for the league’s annual men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to continue to be played at Idaho Central Arena through 2031.

With this latest agreement, the Big Sky Basketball Championships are now slated to call Boise home for 13 consecutive seasons, a run that began in 2019.

“The City of Boise is excited to continue our partnership with Big Sky Conference to host Starch Madness,” said Boise Mayor Lauren McLean. "For the next six years, we will continue to welcome the athletes, fans, and events that bring vibrancy to our community." 

Outside of the Las Vegas area, Boise is the only city in the Western United States that hosts a NCAA Division I conference basketball tournament. The Big Sky first went to a neutral site for its basketball tournament in 2016, hosting the event in Reno, Nevada. Since moving to Boise in 2019, substantial growth and excitement for Starch Madness has swelled with each basketball season in the Treasure Valley, with record attendance marks set during the 2024 and 2025 events.

The 2026 edition of Starch Madness returns to downtown Boise on March 7-11, at Idaho Central Arena.