ACC basketball tournament future? League exec offers insight

Greensboro hosts the ACC Basketball Tournament in March. In 2024, it will be held in Washington. After that, no one really knows. Including those who run it.

Where the tournament will go after 2025 is an open question, but it’s reasonable to expect Charlotte and Washington to have a repeat NBA arena in a vibrant downtown location in the heart of the ACC footprint. Greensboro, meanwhile, has at least two more chances to host by 2033 if the ACC accepts the following conditions: North Carolina’s $15 Million Incentive Keep headquarters within these borders.

After that, it’s debatable. Back in Brooklyn? Could Tampa or Atlanta be back in the mix again? What about new venues like Pittsburgh and Boston? rice field. The window could also include his 75th anniversary in the league and a possible sentimental return to Lowry in 2028.

“I love cities in rotation,” ACC Basketball Commissioner Paul Brazeau told the ACC Now podcast. “Maybe some things go out and some things come in. I like rotation a little bit.”

Since 2015, that rotation has seen three tournaments in Greensboro, two in Brooklyn and Washington, and one in Charlotte. Two years after the last cycle: Greensboro in 2023 makes up for the lost 2020 tournament and Washington in 2024 makes up for 2021.

But the future slate is now wide open, and Brazeau said new shooters like Pittsburgh and Boston, ACC cities for more than a decade, are worth considering if they’re bidding.

“There are other markets that we are really interested in and really like,” Brazeau said. “Pittsburgh really wants to host. …It has hosted the NCAA Tournament several times recently. I haven’t been there either.

“I think this gem pops up from time to time, especially in these two markets. .”

Despite complaints about Brooklyn’s attendance and atmosphere, and the inevitable reality that the tournament didn’t resonate in New York City, especially in a head-to-head matchup with the Big East, Brazeau decided against playing the tournament there, according to the ACC.

“You’re in a big big pond. We know it,” Brazeau said. “There are a few other reasons why it’s so good for us, because who gets involved is just as important as how many.”

Regarding Aozora’s proposal to host the 75th tournament that started in Raleigh,with Tuesday’s game at Reynolds and the rest at PNC Arena or Greensboro, Brazeau said it wasn’t out of the question.

“Apart from attendance and ticketing, we had twice as many seats at the previous Reynolds. You’ll have to look at that a little bit,” he said. Some people will have to go through it, it’s the state’s home court. Everything can be on the table.”

Atlanta last hosted in 2012, when the ACC was unhappy with the state of what is now called State Farm Arena, but the facility underwent major renovations in 2017 and 2018. I was. He returned in 2009 with less than promising results, causing a downsizing of the NBA arena.

Tampa disappoints with ticket sales in 2007, but the entertainment district around Amalie Arena has grown dramatically since then, with the SEC hosting a tournament last spring. Orlando could probably be in the mix too if the ACC decides to move there.

If the ACC accepts the state’s proposal, at least four of the nine tournaments from 2025-2033 will be held in North Carolina, two of which will be in Greensboro. Assuming Washington and Brooklyn remain in the mix, there isn’t much room for newcomers like Pittsburgh and Boston, or renewals with Atlanta and Tampa, even if the ACC advances into 2032 with this bidding cycle.

Either way, March 2025 is fast approaching when you’re planning an event of this magnitude.

“Again, everything from hotels to arena availability will be an all-encompassing situation,” Brazeau said. “It’s all together. Set.”

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