News Release

FORT WAYNE — For the third year in a row, Fort Wayne is welcoming back the  Lutheran Basketball Association of America as the group holds its 76th national tournament.

Visit Fort Wayne’s group sales team helped propose local venues and won the business for 2022 and the tournament has returned annually and will likely continue to host in Fort Wayne through 2030.

Teams will arrive in Fort Wayne on Thursday, March 21, and the tournament will take place through Sunday, March 24. Twenty-five Fort Wayne hotels are being used for housing teams and fans, with 2,300 visitors expected from all over the nation, including 32 boys teams and 32 girls teams from schools across the Midwest and as far away as California, Colorado, Florida and Texas.

Local teams participating include the Central Lutheran Chargers (boys and girls), St. Paul’s Bears (boys and girls) and St. Peter’s Lions (girls).

The tournament will be held at the Plassman Athletic Center at Turnstone, which features four courts under one roof. Opening ceremonies will take place at the Concordia Theological Seminary on Thursday, March 21.

Teams will be out and about the community, participating in a scavenger hunt put together by Visit Fort Wayne to help attendees explore the community and see more of the city during their visit.

“The 76th Annual Lutheran Basketball of America’s National Tournament is back in Fort Wayne for its third time after two very successful years,” said Rob Gasser, president of Lutheran Basketball Association of America. “The opening ceremony is held again at the Concordia Theological Seminary on Thursday at 5 p.m. and the games are at Turnstone (Plassman Athletic Center) Friday to Sunday. Additionally, we are thankful for the great support from the Fort Wayne community that has graciously volunteered their time. Details can be found at www.lbaa.org.”

Considering the overall economic impact the group brings to Fort Wayne, along with the potential for a repeat opportunity to host, the tournament qualified as a recipient of a sports grant that Visit Fort Wayne manages on behalf of the city of Fort Wayne.

“We are honored to welcome back the LBAA’s prestigious tournament and look forward to welcoming their teams to Fort Wayne knowing they’re in great hands with our friends at Turnstone,” said Jazmin Zavala, sports sales manager at Visit Fort Wayne.