Friday, March 9, 2012

Charlotte to pursue hosting ACC tournament

The ACC is expected to send out an RFP (request for proposal) this spring to sites interested in hosting the men's basketball tournament in the future and Charlotte plans to pursue the event.

The ACC tournament will be played in the Greensboro Coliseum in 2013 through 2015. After that, no sites have been determined.

Charlotte has not hosted the event since 2008. With approximately 20,000 seats available in Time Warner Cable Arena, the building fits the paramaters league officials want for future sites.

"The (Charlotte) building works for us size-wise in today's market," ACC commissioner John Swofford said. "The last experience in Charlotte was outstanding in every respect and the feedback we got from schools and fans was extremely positive."

Mike Crum, chief financial officer and vice president for business development with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, said the group is already planning a proposal to the ACC.

"With the experience people had in 2008 and the additional improvements we've made to Charlotte as a travel and tourist destination, when we have the opportunity to tell our story, we'll have a great story to tell," Crum said.

Swofford said the traditional success of the tournament in Greensboro and Charlotte will likely keep the event based in North Carolina with occasional visits to other areas, perhaps Atlanta or Washington, D.C.

"My sense is the schools want to continue to bounce it out of North Carolina periodically but they understand the success of the tournament has been built largely in North Carolina," Swofford said.

-- Ron Green Jr.

11 comments:

WashuOtaku said...

Well... except for the leaky roof.

rickp1971 said...

It should rotate between Charlotte, Greensboro, and Raleigh in my opinion! Keep it in NC!

Anonymous said...

How many ACC schools are in CLT? That tourney and league has become a two team joke.. This is not 1980. Look at the attendance in ATL. We'd be better off recruiting an 8 year olds soccer tournament to fill hotel rooms.

Anonymous said...

ACC Tourney doesn't belong in Charlotte - period.

Anonymous said...

Give it a few years. It is going to take that long to get the stink from the Commiecrat convention out of the city.

Anonymous said...

Loved having it here. Will look forward to the next time.

Claxton said...

Charlotte is a natural to host the ACC Tournament. There are a lot of fans and alumni of ACC schools here, we have a great facility in Time Warner Cable Arena, and we've hosted this event on many occasions in the past. We're right in the ACC's wheelhouse, as it were. No good reason whatsoever for Charlotte NOT to host.

Anonymous said...

Hope we get it .. It should be here permanently

Anonymous said...

And Swofford wants the ACC football championship in harlotte permanently also. I personally asked Pitt and Syracuse to rethink joining the ACC because there's only two teams who benefit from the financial side of sports. Why does Fl, Ga, Va, MD, NY, and Pa not get all that gas, hotel, food, and other revenues that come from ACC tournament games? Their money keeps UNC's tuition low.

Charlanta said...

Charlotte is the only REAL option and should be the permanent host with Atl, NYC, DC and Greensboro rotating once every 5 years.

priceperhead said...

I would really love to see Charlotte to host the ACC tournament, it would be so nice for Charlotte citizen and I know they will enjoy such event!