LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The boys and girls state basketball finals are back in Little Rock, and Barton Coliseum gets a facelift to be the big host.
The three-day tournament will host some of the best high school players, their families and fans, but they will also enjoy a new basketball court, new seats, improved sound and lighting and brand new restrooms.
Now everyone is asking the question, "why Barton?" and President of the North Little Rock Chamber, Terry Hartwick, says Verizon was booked and other games were being played in Hot Springs, so driving home one day, it dawned on him.
"I went, 'Barton!' It just hit me," Hartwick says. "We used to play basketball here when I was a kid, this was the place, so I came and looked at it and it was horrible."
But that has all changed now.
The state finals are this Thursday, March 7 through Saturday, March 9.
More than 75,000 fans are expected to show up, bringing in thousands of dollars to Little Rock and North Little Rock.
