Louisiana High School Athletic Association Shifts State Basketball Tournament to Lafayette’s Cajundome
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announced that the boys state basketball tournament will leave Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles and take up residence at the Cajundome in Lafayette, ending a tenure that began in 2014. Alongside the basketball move, the association also shifted the powerlifting championship to the West Monroe Sports and Events Complex and the wrestling finals to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, reallocating venues across the state. Eric Zartler, Executive Director of the Lake Regional Sports Authority, praised the decision, noting the gratitude owed to Lake Charles for more than a decade of hosting and highlighting the competitive bid process that led to the new venues. The Cajundome previously served as the tournament’s home from 1997 to 2011, a period that Zartler referenced when speaking of the arena’s storied role in Louisiana basketball history. Zartler, who submitted a bid on behalf of the region, emphasized that the move does not mark an end but a continuation of the association’s ambition to bring future events back to the area, including plans to reintroduce the girls tournament to Lake Charles within two years. The LHSAA also took the opportunity to thank the host communities for their resilience, especially after the 2020 tournaments were staged amid the COVID‑19 pandemic, and to acknowledge the continued presence of baseball, softball and swimming championships in Lake Charles for the next two seasons. Three local teams captured state titles during the years Burton Coliseum served as the basketball venue, underscoring the competitive spirit that has defined the tournament.