CIAA Leaving Charlotte?
Is the CIAA leaving Charlotte? As Pete Townsend penned for the classic album Who’s Next, “The Song is Over” for the CIAA and Charlotte, North Carolina. Rumors of the split surfaced a couple of years ago, but many collegiate basketball analysts believed rumors of the split were just that: rumors. However, a recent announcement made by the CIAA Board of Directors confirmed the annual tournament will move to another city in 2021. The CIAA Board of Directors also announced the official start of the bidding process to select the next host city for the men’s and women’s basketball tournament. The CIAA leaving Charlotte would be a shock and disappointment to everyone in the city.
Regardless of where the tournament lands, TourneyParties.com will always be the #1 source for CIAA tournament week parties and events. We go, where it goes.
Charlotte and the CIAA: The Perfect Marriage
At the turn of the new millennium, CIAA officials began searching for a host city that could accommodate the growing demand for CIAA basketball tournament tickets. At this point, the CIAA leaving Charlotte wasn’t even a consideration. During the inaugural CIAA basketball tournament in Charlotte in 2006, record crowds proved that Charlotte was the right choice for host city. In 2018, the CIAA basketball tournament attracted more than 140,000 fans to the “Queen City,” with an economic impact exceeding $50.5 million. Since 2000, CIAA activities in Charlotte have generated more than $650 million in revenue.
CIAA Board Chair and Fayetteville University President Dr. James A. Anderson released the following statement: “The Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) and the city of Charlotte have been a great host for the CIAA Basketball Tournament. Over the past 13 years both the CIAA tournament and Charlotte have grown and benefitted from the relationship. The Board believes it makes good business sense to re-evaluate the location and amenities for the future of the tournament. Being mindful of the footprint of the CIAA institutions in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and now South Carolina, it’s important to review all possible/potential locations to identify what’s best for our student-athletes, alumni, and fans.”
The Bidding Process
The announcement of starting the bidding process immediately for hosting the CIAA basketball tournament means the Board of directors are serious about finding a new home for the popular collegiate sporting event as soon as possible. The CIAA leaving Charlotte is a true possibility, unless Charlotte submits and bid and plan that the CIAA can’t refuse. Cities have access to bid specifications, which presents the criteria the CIAA Board of Directors will use to select the next host city. The CIAA Board of Directors is seeking bids from cities wanting to host the basketball tournament from 2021 to 2023. Although not confirmed by CIAA officials, the short period for hosting the CIAA basketball tournament appears to be a trial run to determine whether the city selected is worthy of a long-term contract. Cities must submit bids that include a budget, hotel rates, and an affirmation to comply with CIAA bid specifications.
CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams said, “The selection of the future CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament site is in alignment with site selections for all CIAA championships. The conference’s Board sees this as a great opportunity to open the tournament experience to other markets and to forge new alliances. Charlotte has been a great home for us and we look forward to continuing our partnership. Our future includes writing a new chapter in our tournament’s history, with a goal of creating exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experiences for our student-athletes, coaches, alumni, sponsors, and fans.”
What the New Host City Must Bring to the Bidding
CIAA basketball tournament bid specifications remain unclear. However, you can rest assured the CIAA Board of Directors want a host city to offer a vibrant social scene, with preferably at least one entertainment district to attract the thousands of fans attending the weeklong collegiate sporting event.
Here are some other factors for prospective host cities to consider:
Highly Regarded Restaurant Scene
Charlotte offers CIAA basketball fans a diverse dining scene, from seafood flown in from the Atlantic Ocean to fare created by referring to South Carolina Low Country recipes. The next host city for the CIAA basketball tournament must offer a highly regarded restaurant scene that appeals to a wide variety of palates.
Ample Hotel Capacity
A city cannot accommodate more than 140,000 rabid college basketball fans by not providing enough hotel rooms for the week. Charlotte prepared for bidding on the CIAA college basketball tournament by building new hotels, as well as presenting blueprints of a future hotel expansion. The presence of both international brands and local bed and breakfast boutique hotels is essential to winning the bid to host the next CIAA basketball tournament.
World Class Public Transportation
Charlotte represents the ideal city for hosting the CIAA basketball tournament. With a downtown entertainment district located close to numerous hotels, fans can leave their vehicles behind and hop on a bus or train to reach their destinations. Both Charlotte CIAA tournament venues are located near stops on the city’s light rail system.
Rabid College Basketball Fans
If you do not know by now, North Carolina is one of the premier college hotspots in the United States. Charlotte is the perfect city not only to attract college basketball fans from across the country, but it is also home to hundreds of thousands of rabid college basketball fans. The next host city of the CIAA college basketball tournament must generate the same level of local fan interest.
It is not clear whether the CIAA Board of Directors wants to name a host city located close to the colleges and universities that send teams to the annual tournament. The next CIAA basketball tournament host city might be located along the Atlantic seaboard like Charlotte or the Board of Directors might try to expand interest in the tournament by moving it outside the East Coast.
CIAA Leaving Charlotte – The Bottom Line
The early stage of the bidding process to host the CIAA tournament has not yielded any front runners. However, the city that wins the bidding process will host a collegiate athletic event that ESPN covers in prime time. The quality of basketball played at the CIIA tournament has produced interest from numerous NBA scouts, with multiple players earning spots on NBA rosters. Between the sold out venues and CIAA parties held everywhere, fans need to focus on one thing above all.
Book your hotel rooms early.