The Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Games will be moving from Northwest Arkansas, after a 10-year stay.

The Arkansas Activities Association board of directors voted to move the games back to Conway for the next five years, with the events being played at Central Arkansas. Fayetteville had served as host for the festivities from 2002-2012, with the events held at Arkansas.

Conway had also bid for the all-star games both in 2003 and 2007, but were unsuccessful both times.

Before 2002, Conway served as host for boys and girls basketball and football games for many years.

Now, the festivities include baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and dance and cheer events in addition to basketball and football.

AHSCA president and Fayetteville football coach Daryl Patton said the change was simply economics.

   “It was just financial,” Patton said. “I really can’t get into the bids and the numbers, but it was purely financial.”

— PAUL BOYD