It’s TSSAA high school basketball tournament time again in Middle Tennessee, and MTSU once again is making a few temporary parking and traffic changes to accommodate its guests and neighbors.
The 2022 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) Blue Cross State Basketball Championships kick off this week at MTSU's Murphy Center. The girls face off March 8-12, and the boys take the court March 15-19. Rutherford County has hosted this tournament since 1973!
The TSSAA Division I High School Basketball Tournaments are adding a Tuesday to their schedules this year. The state tourneys are now set March 8-12 for the girls and March 15-19 for the boys inside Murphy Center’s Hale/Earle Arena on the northwest side of the MTSU campus.
As a result, all motorists traveling around and on campus should be aware of factors affecting MTSU roads and parking.
- MTSU’s East Main Street and Rutherford Boulevard entrance will be the most convenient campus entry points during the tournaments, university officials said. The arm gate on the east side of the Cope Administration Building will be raised during both events to give motorists access to Old Main Circle and the Midgett Lot.
- The Greenland Drive parking lot will be reserved for TSSAA ticket holders during both tournaments with a $5 per vehicle charge. Students and faculty who use the Greenland Drive lot should prepare now to find alternative parking on campus, including the Tennessee Livestock Pavilion lot off Greenland Drive and the Rutherford Boulevard and MTSU parking lots.
- Faulkinberry Drive and Normal Way will be closed during both tournaments to accommodate TSSAA team buses. No parking or street access will be available.
University officials are encouraging motorists to allow extra time to reach their destinations while passing by or traveling to campus because of tournament traffic congestion. Campus motorists also should use the university’s perimeter parking lots and the Raider Xpress shuttle service during the tournaments.
MTSU will be on spring break March 7-12, during the first TSSAA tournament. No classes will be held, but university offices will be open regular hours.
The Raider Xpress shuttle service will not run while the university is on spring break; it will return to its normal schedule March 14.
During the second TSSAA tournament March 15-19, the shuttles’ "Green Route” will not serve the Greenland Drive parking lot. To accommodate riders affected by this temporary change, an extra bus will serve the “Red Route” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 15-17.
All other events scheduled on campus during the tournaments will be allowed first-come, first-served parking in any of MTSU’s free lots, based on availability.
View parking map