FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 8, 2025

ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI SET TO HOST THE 2027-2029 GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS

GLVCsports.com

INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) has announced a new site for the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournaments from 2027 to 2029, as the event moves to St. Joseph Missouri, it was announced by the league office Wednesday.

After spending the past three years at the former league member Lindenwood University’s Hyland Arena, and the 2026 contest being held at University of St. Louis’s Mark Twain Building, the contests from 2027-2029 will take place at the St. Joseph Civic Arena, the previous site of multiple NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships.

“We are looking forward to showcasing the talents of the student-athletes from 16 teams to a new neutral site venue for the GLVC,” said Jim Naumovich, GLVC Commissioner. “The St. Joseph community and the Sports Commission have a long history of supporting post-season basketball events and we believe playing in Civic Arena with the local fan interest will be a significant championship enhancement for all the participating teams.”

The facility can accommodate 3,800 fans in the spectator seating area. All 14 games will also be streamed live on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN). The action can be viewed on GLVCSN.com or the many GLVCSN apps available on Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as OTT platforms on Roku, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.

“We are absolutely thrilled for the opportunity to partner with the GLVC and their confidence in us to help create a championship experience here in St. Joseph,” said Brett Esely, the Executive Director of the St. Joseph Sports Commission. “We’ve had the good fortune of hosting many high magnitude events over the past few years and feel our expertise in this area will be a great fit as the new home of the GLVC Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championships moving forward!”

The Great Lakes Valley Conference is made up of 15 member institutions which include:

Drury University Panthers – Springfield, Missouri

University of Illinois-Springfield – Prairie Stars – Springfield, Illinois

University of Indianapolis Greyhounds – Indianapolis, Indiana

Lewis University Flyers – Romeoville, Illinois

Lincoln University Blue Tigers – Jefferson City, Missouri

Maryville University Saints – Town and Country, Missouri

McKendree University Bearcats – Lebanon, Illinois

Missouri S & T Miners – Rolla, Missouri

University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons – St. Louis, Missouri

Quincy University Hawks – Qunicy, Illinois

Rockhurst University Hawks – Kansas City, Missouri

Southwest Baptist University Bearcats – Bolivar, Missouri

Truman State University Bulldogs – Kirksville, Missouri

Upper Iowa University Peacocks – Fayette, Iowa

William Jewell College Cardinals – Liberty, Missouri

FUTURE CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:

March 4-7, 2027

March 2-5, 2028

March 1-4, 2029

The St. Joseph Sports Commission is a division of the St. Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau.