Freedom Hall opened in 1974 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024-25.
Marty Gordon
Johnson City, Tennessee will be home to the Big South Conference’s men’s and women’s basketball tournament beginning in 2025 and stretching for two years with an option for 2027.
On Friday, the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers announced it is bringing the tournaments to the “Mountain South” and Freedom Hall Civic Center. The facility marks the league’s sixth overall neutral site for its marquee basketball events in the conference’s 40-year history. The agreement includes a mutual option for 2027.
“The Big South Conference looks forward to partnering with Johnson City in hosting a first class and memorable championship experience in the Mountain South for our basketball student-athletes,” said Big South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “Representatives of Johnson City made it clear that attracting a premier sporting event was a priority. The Big South is confident that this partnership will showcase highly competitive basketball programs while creating brand exposure in this thriving region.”
Located an average of three hours from the Big South’s nine member institutions, including the closest in Radford University, Johnson City becomes the first location outside the conference’s traditional footprint to host the basketball championships and will continue the league’s staging of the combined tournaments that has occurred since 2022. The 2025 Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships are scheduled for Wednesday-Sunday, March 5-9 at 6,500-seat Freedom Hall. The conference’s signature event has been conducted at the same site 12 times previously: 1997-98 (Lynchburg, Va. – campus), 1999-00 (Asheville, N.C. – neutral), 2001-02 (Roanoke, Va. – neutral), 2013-15 (Conway, S.C. – campus), 2022-23 (Charlotte, N.C. – neutral) and 2024 (High Point, N.C. – campus).
“Today is a celebration of teamwork and our relentless pursuit of providing a positive and enriching experience for all of the athletes and fans who will travel to Johnson City for the Big South Basketball Championships,” said Brenda Whitson, Executive Director of Visit Johnson City.
“The Big South’s commitment to their student-athletes was immediately evident and something that was glaringly similar to our devotion to Johnson City and its residents,” added Dr. Todd Fowler, Mayor of Johnson City.
The Hercules Tires Big South Basketball Championships will join an array of world class events hosted by Johnson City, which includes 12 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the PDGA Pro Masters Disc Golf World Championship, PDGA US Women’s Disc Golf Championship, Bands of America Regional/National Championships, AAU National Invitational Baseball Championships, USSSA Baseball National Championships, Appalachian Athletic Conference Baseball Championships, USA Softball Olympic Team Exhibition Game, ASA/USA Softball Fastpitch National Championships for 30+ years.
Freedom Hall has played host to more than 2,500 events since its opening act featuring Bob Hope 50 years ago. Freedom Hall has served the Tri-Cities region for all forms of activities, concerts to rodeos, conventions to sports events, both local and professional.
The Big South’s five previous neutral site conference tournaments were held in 1991-92 (men’s – Civic Center of Anderson, S.C.), 1993-94 (men’s – North Charleston Coliseum, S.C.), 1999-00 (men’s and women’s – Asheville Civic Center, N.C.), 2002-03 (men’s and women’s – Roanoke Civic Center, Va.) and 2022-23 (men’s and women’s – Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C.)
For 40 years, the Big South Conference has been an exemplary leader in college athletics since its founding in 1983, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. Comprised of nine member institutions sharing a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes, the Big South’s remarkable history of achievement is characterized by the league’s 19 championship sports and the profound academic and life successes of its more than 3,200 student-athletes.
This has evolved into the conference’s “Where Winners Are Made” mantra as part of a strategic emphasis on becoming the premiere non-FBS conference in the Southeast through its six Core Values of Academic Centrality; Athletic Excellence; Equity, Diversity & Inclusion; Integrity; Sportsmanship & Fair Play; and Student-Athlete Welfare.
Freedom Hall Civic Center opened in 1974 on Liberty Bell Complex next to Science Hill High School. The arena was built by the City of JC to be used as an entertainment venue & additional space for the middle & high schools located on property.
Johnson City is in east Tennessee with a population of 72,514 people.
