The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) has unveiled a transformative plan for its basketball championships that will take effect beginning in 2027. Central to the announcement is the relocation of the women's basketball championship to St. Louis, where it will join the men's tournament under a single, larger event branded as Arch Madness.
A Unified Tournament Format
Both the men's and women's brackets will now feature ten teams, with the top two seeds in each bracket receiving a direct bye to the semifinals. This structure is designed to heighten competition early in the tournament while rewarding regular‑season excellence.
The decision builds on the long‑standing tradition of the men's event, which has been anchored in St. Louis since 1991. By bringing the women's championship to the same venue, the MVC hopes to create a seamless fan experience that celebrates both programs within the same weekend.
Historical Venues and Future Sites
From 2016 through 2024, the women's championship was staged in the Quad Cities region, and the 2025 edition found a home at Evansville's Ford Center. The 2026 tournament will move to Coralville, Iowa, before the permanent shift to St. Louis in 2027. Each of these locations has contributed to the growing visibility of the conference's postseason play.
MVC Commissioner Jeff Jackson described the move as a natural evolution of the Arch Madness brand, emphasizing that consolidating the championships will amplify the conference's basketball narrative and provide student‑athletes with a larger stage for their talents.
Drake University President Marty Martin, who chairs the MVC Board of Directors, voiced strong support for the change, noting that the new format will deliver greater value to fans, media partners, and corporate sponsors alike.
Sponsorship and Community Impact
State Farm Insurance has been a cornerstone sponsor of Arch Madness since 1991, and the conference also benefits from the long‑standing support of Grinnell Mutual Insurance and Credit Union 1, which have backed postseason events since 2016 and 2024 respectively. These partnerships underscore the tournament's importance to regional business communities.
While specific details about schedules, ticket packages, and fan experiences are slated for release in the coming months, the MVC has indicated that enhanced interactive elements and expanded media coverage will be integral to the new-look championship.