Insider's Guide
Downtown rolls out Summit League welcome mat with activities, shuttle, specials. (Article by Pigeon605: https://pigeon605.com/downtown-rolls-out-summit-league-welcome-mat-with-activities-shuttle-specials/)
Downtown Sioux Falls is ready to create a slam-dunk experience during this year’s Summit League Basketball Championships.
A quick look around starts to tell the story: signage, banners and plenty of energy waiting to greet the tens of thousands of guests who will be coming to Sioux Falls for the tournament today through Sunday.
“People are not here for a single two-hour game. They are here for a weekend, and we’re here to make sure they’re finding a place to eat, shop and explore between sessions,” Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. CEO Brandon Hanson said.
“What is different this year is how coordinated the effort is. We are taking a literal approach to our mission of driving people downtown.”
The effort is essential, said Mike Krewson, general manager of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
“We need to be more than a basketball tournament to be successful,” he said. “Attracting visitors for the games is great, but we want them to come back at other times to enjoy all we have to offer.”
Summit League Central
Jacobson Plaza at Falls Park West will serve as “Summit League Central” this year, offering photo backdrops, a life-size tournament bracket and the chance to try out curling activities.
Look for food and beverage specials inside The Lodge Bar & Grill, and catch the games on TV there.
“It’s just been a great partnership,” said Shawn Pritchett, the city’s director of finance. “Our work with DTSF and other partners was a big reason why we were able to secure another contract with The Summit League. There are expectations that there’s broad, visible community support and that people feel welcome.”
Look for game-day specials, themed promotions and interactive elements like mini basketball hoops, with discounts at retailers and restaurants throughout downtown.
“Every positive experience creates the opportunity for a return visit,” Hanson said. “Think about families planning summer trips and regional visitors who did not realize how much Sioux Falls has evolved.”
The tournament also aligns with the annual DTSF Mash Madness event, which has grown significantly to include 31 participating businesses this March.
Sponsored by Williquors, this taste-and-rate competition offers guests the chance to try craft beers, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages while voting for their favorites.
“It is energetic, accessible and designed to pull people across multiple blocks instead of keeping them in one place,” Hanson said.
Click here for complete details on Downtown Sioux Falls Mash Madness 2026.
The downtown visitor experience already has been noticed by tournament guests, Krewson said.
“We hear comments ranging from enjoying the Falls and the green space to the small-town feel of Phillips Avenue,” he said.
“Having such a large community lift on creating these experiences through multiple partners is why Sioux Falls stands out as a host site. We don’t just rinse and repeat — we want to level up every year and raise the bar on what we did the year before. Fans love it, teams love it, and even members of the public that don’t go to the games love it because it creates something fresh to do in town.”
Free shuttle, free parking
Through a partnership between Via, which manages Sioux Area Metro, and The Steel District, a free city shuttle will run on the busiest tournament days, Thursday through Saturday. It will connect the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, The Steel District and the downtown core, including Summit League Central.
“The idea is to make movement simple,” Hanson said. “This is a direct effort to make downtown the easiest next step after the final buzzer.”
If you prefer to drive, the following parking ramps are free during the tournament:
- The Steel District Ramp, 505 N. Metli Place
- 1st Avenue Ramp, 110 E. 11st St.
- Downtown Mall Ramps, 110 S. Mall Ave.
“Fans can park downtown or near the Arena and move easily between locations without worrying about cost or logistics. No circling. No reparking. No stress,” Hanson said.
“The ramps are well lit, easy to access and positioned within walking distance of restaurants, retail, hotels and shuttle stops. Instead of circling for street parking or moving your car multiple times, pull into a ramp, lock up, and step straight into the weekend.”
Park once, move easily between the games and downtown, and enjoy everything happening in between.
The Summit League Downtown Shuttle will run every 45 minutes from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the following stops:
- Downtown Bus Depot
- The Steel District
- Holiday Inn & Suites at 2040 W. Russell St.
- Sheraton Hotel
- Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
“The whole point is that even if you’re not going to a game, you can experience everything going on,” Pritchett said.
And, don’t miss the activities planned at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center around the games.
The Sioux Falls Arts Commission is launching “Full Court Color: Arena to Asphalt” — a live public art experience. Artist Les Cotton will create a live mural at the tournament where families can contribute their own basketball-inspired artwork in an interactive Design Lab. Selected designs will be transformed into custom vinyl basketball backboards installed in 10 parks across Sioux Falls.
“They will be focused on high-attendance times between sessions in the atrium of the Convention Center,” Pritchett said. “We’re excited to see the artwork installed in our parks.”
Locals: You’re invited too
The events and activities happening during The Summit League tournament are definitely designed for locals too. The same benefits offered to visitors are extended to locals.
“Locals should absolutely take advantage of this weekend,” Hanson said. “Each time we host a major event, we hear the same feedback from residents who come out. They are surprised at how clean, safe and alive downtown feels. Some perceptions linger from decades ago. When people give downtown another look, they are often blown away.”
The effort is important for the community too. It keeps major events like the tournament coming back and provides another way to support the local businesses that give downtown its one-of-a-kind character.
“The deputy commissioner of The Summit League compared walking into our downtown to ‘stepping into a Hallmark movie.’ That kind of reaction speaks to atmosphere, place, scale and character,” Hanson said.
“A strong downtown produces a strong city. The prioritization and investment over the past five years have reshaped the experience. The tournament weekend simply amplifies it.”
To learn more
Connect with all Summit League-related activities through a centralized website at 2026 Summit League Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships — Downtown Sioux Falls.
“It’s our goal that this year our businesses are aligned, our promotions are synchronized and the message is unified,” Hanson said.
“This is an intentional extension of the tournament. It’s not just something happening at the PREMIER Center. It’s happening across the city. When people think about The Summit League tournament in Sioux Falls, we want them to think about downtown as part the experience.”
