Portland’s Cross Insurance Arena is unlikely to host state championship games in high school basketball next winter because of a scheduling conflict.

Matt Herpich, general manager of the arena, said he sent an email to the Maine Principals’ Association last week telling the organization it should seek another site to host its Class B boys’ and girls’ state title games in 2017.

Those games will be played either March 3 or March 4. The arena is hosting America East Conference women’s basketball tournament games on March 4-5 and the league has reserved the building for team practices on March 3, according to conference spokesman Matt Bourque.

It is uncertain where or when the Class B state title games will be played, said Mike Burnham, the MPA’s assistant executive director.

“That hasn’t been determined. We will have a championship but it won’t be at the Cross Insurance (Arena),” he said.

Herpich left open the possibility that the games could be squeezed in after America East practice time on March 3. But, he told MPA officials, “It may be in (your) best interest to start seeking other options.”

The MPA has been hosting its state championship games at the state’s three largest arenas: Cross Insurance Arena, Cross Insurance Center in Bangor and the Augusta Civic Center. Next winter, the Class AA and Class A state championships games are scheduled for Augusta; Class C and Class D will be played in Bangor.

South regional tournament games in Class AA, Class A and Class B will continue to be played at the Portland Expo and Cross Insurance Arena during the February school vacation week, which is Feb. 20-25 in 2017.

Herpich said he had discussions with the MPA about the 2017 high school basketball dates when the 2016 tournament ended.

The arena announced in December 2015 that it will host the America East women’s basketball quarterfinal and semifinal games during the first weekend in March in 2017 and 2018.

The conflict between high school and college basketball could happen again in 2018. If the MPA sticks to its traditional basketball tournament schedule, it will be holding state championships the same weekend as the America East games.

Last year the 6,800-seat CIA was packed to near capacity for the AA boys’ game between Portland and South Portland after a well-attended afternoon session for the Class A games.

That next winter’s championship games would be for smaller Class B schools did not impact arena scheduling, Herpich said.

“Oh no. The class (size) doesn’t matter. It’s a community building, you host whatever’s coming,” Herpich said.

Athletic directors expressed regret that the Class B state championships are likely to be displaced from Cross Insurance Arena.

“Obviously it’s disappointing because it’s a great venue for our kids to be able to play in and it’s historic,” said Wells Athletic Director Jack Molloy.

Molloy and Lake Region Athletic Director Paul True said they felt the 2,717-seat Portland Expo would be a viable alternative for the Class B championship games.

“I can see where parking is a bit of an issue but now they clear the arena between the boys’ and girls’ games. I don’t think seating would be an issue. It’s not like it’s a Portland or a Deering that would be playing in that game where you have thousands wanting to attend,” True said.

“I think it’s important that we try to keep it in Portland and if the Expo is available that would be an option,” Molloy said. “Selfishly for our fan bases, we’re going to get more people to see us play in Portland and in terms of state basketball we need to have at least one state championship played in Portland each year.”

The location of state championship games are rotated so one region does not annually get a home-court edge.

“Anyone who has been around the game knows that hosting a state championship game at a site where you’ve played at least three games is an advantage,” said True, who also is Lake Region’s girls’ basketball coach. “So that would be unfortunate for the B South teams.”