What a college-level basketball tournament looks like in the Quad Cities
What a college-level basketball tournament looks like in the Quad Cities
In March of 2024, the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament returned to Vibrant Arena at THE MARK in Moline, Illinois. It marked the ninth consecutive year of this event's Quad Cities residency, affirming its status as the nation's longest standalone neutral site women's basketball tournament.
The entire week was a huge success for both the student-athletes and the QC community.
The Banquet
The week started off at Rhythm City Casino and Resort. Athletes, coaches, university presidents, family and community leaders were able to enjoy a banquet full of awards, hype videos and lots of selfies! It was fun to see the student-athletes take a break from school and basketball and get a night to dress up and celebrate with one another.
Start of the Tournament
Fast forward to the tournament the next day, Visit Quad Cities couldn’t have asked for a better start to a busy week of women’s college basketball. Mascots were full of energy, student athletes were enjoying the atmosphere and fans were ready to cheer on their favorite schools.
As the championship game got closer, the fans got rowdier. Fans spent time at their “Fan Fun Zones” located at various local restaurants in the QC. Restaurant owners loved having cheerleaders, band members, university presidents and athletic directors “take over” their space. Everyone loved being in the Quad Cities!
Championship Sunday
The Drake Bulldogs took on the Missouri Lady Bears for the championship game. It was back and forth scoring, and a last second shot by the Bulldogs sealed the deal. They were the back-to-back MVC Women’s Basketball Tournament Champions.
This tournament brought excitement to the Quad Cities, and it truly inspired the next generation of athletes. Sports QC and Visit Quad Cities both continue to build a destination to produce an effective and positive experience for student-athletes and their fans.