NORFOLK, Neb. -- Johnny Carson Theatre has played host to the State One Acts Championships for over a decade, and with the contract set to expire at the end of 2024, officials in Norfolk said they are hopeful it will stay in Norfolk.

“We bid for it five years ago. We’re prepared to go to the table if it’s still a good partnership to bid for that again. It is huge for the community,” said Stephanie Bates activities director for Norfolk Area Sports Council.

Bates said 2023 was a successful competition, and while not able to provide exact figures, ticket sales were up 22% during the competition and said the Class A Competition was a “completely full house.”

While the current contract is one made five years ago, Bates is confident Johnny Carson Theatre is a good enough facility and said responses from the public have been positive.

“Each year we do a recap meeting to see if there’s anything that needs to be improved upon," Bates said. "I do know at the event, everything was positive from the public, spectators, staff and everything."

District 3 NSAA Board of Director Jon Cerny said he hopes Norfolk Public Schools once again applies for the position to host the event and said the theatre in Norfolk is well suited to hold the championships.

Norfolk will host the State One Acts Championships in December 2024, and the bids for the next five-year contract are set to open in January 2025.

Bates noted the influx of visitors leads to an economic boost in the community and hopes the area is able to continue to host the event.

“It’s around or over $1.3 million worth of economic boost for those visitors, those teams, [and] the spectators to come in and watch that," Bates said. "They stay the night, they eat here, [and] they shop here.”

Cerny can’t say for sure, but he anticipates one to two other cities will join Norfolk in competing for the next five years of State One Acts.