The 6A boys state basketball championship is returning to Portland in 2010, and for the first time, the 6A girls event will take place at the same time in the Rose Garden arena. 

"I'm convinced these tournaments need to be in Portland," OSAA executive director Tom Welter said after a conference call approving the change. 

Especially convincing, he said, is that 39 of the 46 class 6A schools are located between Portland and Salem. "This move not only places our events in a NBA facility and the best basketball arena in the state, it also will result in considerable savings in travel, meals and lodging costs for schools.”

After 38 years at Memorial Coliseum, the boys tournament moved to Eugene’s MacArthur Court in 2004 as part of a multi-year, multi-sport tournament agreement with the Unviersity of Oregon. MacArthur Court continues as the venue for the class 5A boys and girls tournaments. 

The 6A tournament had been held at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center since 1983, but that venue is no longer available during the usual tournament time.