Horizon League Basketball Championships Heading to Noblesville’s Arena at Innovation Mile

Photo Courtesy of Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey

The Horizon League has announced that its men’s and women’s basketball championship tournament will move to The Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville, Indiana, in 2027. The agreement runs through at least 2031, bringing postseason excitement and thousands of fans to the fast-growing northern Indianapolis suburb.

City leaders in Noblesville spent more than a year and a half pursuing the opportunity through a competitive bid process. Their efforts paid off when the Horizon League selected the 3,500-seat arena as the future home for the league’s second rounds, semifinals, and championship games.

The Horizon League tournament has been held at Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds for the past seven years, and league officials emphasized that they were not looking at leaving the area. However, when evaluating potential options within the region, the league found that Noblesville’s new basketball-focused venue offered a unique opportunity.

The Arena at Innovation Mile is designed for basketball, creating a more intimate environment for postseason play. For student-athletes, that means competing in a venue where every seat feels close to the action, and the atmosphere can quickly become electric.

The Horizon League currently features 11 member schools across six states, with plans to expand.  League officials believe the move to Noblesville will showcase the sport in a state that lives and breathes basketball.

Sadly, this is another event or tenant that has left the Corteva Coliseum in the past two years. The Indy Fuel relocated to the Fishers Event Center, only eight miles south of The Arena in Fishers, and the IU-Indianapolis moved back to campus with plans to open up the 4,500-seat James T. Morris Arena this fall. The league has held its basketball tournament in Indianapolis since 2020.

The Corteva Coliseum, then known as the Indiana Farmers Coliseum, went through $53 million in renovations between 2012 and 2014 to welcome professional hockey back to the city. With today's announcement, there will be one less sporting event taking place. The venue is hosting the HBCU All-Star Game on April 5.

For the booming market of Hamilton County, local leaders expect a major economic boost as teams, fans, and families travel to the area each March. Visitors will fill hotel rooms, dine in local restaurants, and explore entertainment options throughout Noblesville and the broader Indianapolis region.

Sports tourism officials estimate that events like the Horizon League Championships bring millions of dollars in economic impact to host communities. With thousands of athletes, coaches, and fans arriving over multiple days of competition, the tournament is expected to become a significant annual event for the region.

The partnership also reflects the continued growth of Hamilton County as a sports destination. With new facilities, expanding infrastructure, and proximity to Indianapolis, the county is positioning itself to host more regional and national events in the coming years.

Once completed, the Arena at Innovation Mile will serve as a centerpiece of Noblesville’s developing Innovation Mile district. The building opened this past November and is home to the Indiana Pacers G-League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom.

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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com