Noblesville Deputy Mayor Matt Light joined Noblesville Boom president Chris Defendis this week to welcome Horizon League basketball players, coaches and staff to the city, talking up Riverview Health Arena and the sprawling Innovation Mile district as the venue prepares to anchor the conference's postseason for years to come. The gathering doubled as a celebration of the arena's new multi-year hosting role and a pitch to the athletes now training for a tournament that will crown champions in Noblesville starting in 2027.
According to a City of Noblesville, Ind. post on Facebook, Light discussed Riverview Health Arena, Innovation Mile and what he called the city's momentum directly with the student-athletes, coaches and staff in attendance. Hall of Fame college basketball broadcaster Debbie Antonelli, an analyst also known as the voice of the Indiana Fever, spoke at the celebration, which the city said welcomed student-athletes and coaches from across the league.
An 11-Team Bracket Set for March 2027
The Horizon League unveiled its official bracket structure for the 2027 basketball championships in September, scheduling teams to play second-round, semifinal and title games at Riverview Health Arena from March 7 to March 9, 2027, according to Wright State University Athletics. League materials list Detroit Mercy, Green Bay, UIndy, Milwaukee, NIU and Northern Kentucky among the programs tied to the tournament, but Detroit Mercy's men's team won't actually take the floor in Noblesville. The program was ruled ineligible for the 2027 tournament after failing to meet NCAA Academic Progress Rate benchmarks, a disqualification Hoodline previously reported, leaving 11 men's teams to compete even as the league's general bracket lists 12 institutions.
The tournament's arrival is the product of a five-year agreement the Horizon League, the City of Noblesville and the Hamilton County Sports Authority finalized in March, locking in both the men's and women's championship crowning rounds at Riverview Health Arena from 2027 through 2031, per Citizen Portal. The agreement brings the championships' final rounds to Noblesville.
A Venue Already Paying Its Way
Riverview Health Arena is a Noblesville venue. Riverview Health signed a naming-rights deal for the arena.
That investment already looks like it's earning its keep. The arena hosted 73 unique events and drew 60,000 attendees during its first full year of operation, generating more than $4 million in general revenue, city officials reported in September. It has hosted a range of events.
Innovation Mile's Bigger Bet
The arena sits inside Innovation Mile, a Noblesville district.
Noblesville is still adding to that footprint. The city issued a request for proposals in September for a USA Gymnastics national headquarters and training center at Innovation Mile expected to cost more than $100 million, targeting a spring 2027 groundbreaking and a May 2028 opening.
The arena and its neighboring projects reflect a broader run of momentum for the city. Noblesville recorded $1.5 billion in private investment in 2025 alone, part of a total of $4 billion secured over six years under Mayor Chris Jensen's administration, according to figures published by IN.gov. The investment figures reflect the city's broader growth, with Riverview Health Arena and its coming tournament dates among the visible developments.
