Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

After a 10-year absence, the Arkansas High School Coaches Association's All-Star games are returning to Conway next June.

The Board of Directors of the Arkansas Activities Association voted Wednesday to move the all-star festivities back to Conway for the next five years. Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas have hosted All-Star Week for the last 10 years, but next week’s all-star games in Fayetteville will mark the end of that contract.

“Recruiting this event back to Conway was a team effort,” said Rachel Earls, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce director of destination marketing. “Conway has established itself as a premier location for youth sports. The all-star games provide a great experience to high school athletes, and we are pleased that our team can take part in that experience.”

According to the Log Cabin Democrat, the Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau has committed to a five-year sponsorship of $45,000 a year. One of the attractions was Conway’s central location with 110 of the state’s 239 school districts within a 90-minute drive.

In addition, UCA will host the annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association Clinic. It will also serve as host site for student housing and the baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball and football games, but the soccer games will be at Conway High School.

Several city and community facilities like Hendrix College, the Don Owen Sports Center and the Joe McGee Center will host practices throughout the week.

“We are excited for the opportunity to bring the high school All-Star games and coaches’ clinic back to UCA and central Arkansas,” said Joey Walters, deputy executive director of the Arkansas Activities Association. “We look forward to working with the City of Conway, Conway Convention and Visitors Bureau, UCA and Conway Public Schools. We think this will be a great event with much success.”

All-Star Week has expanded dramatically since it was last in Conway in 2002. It originally consisted of boys and girls basketball games and a football game. Now, the festivities include baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and dance and cheer events in addition to basketball and football.

“Over the last decade, the All-Star activities have grown to include more sports and more athletes,” Conway Mayor Tab Townsell said. We’re excited that Conway has also grown into a place that can host such a large and high-profile event.”