Virginia makes play to host ACC championship games after NC exit
RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Virginia officials are looking to bring ACC championship game here to the Commonwealth after the conference announced it's pulling out of North Carolina over the state's controversial bathroom law, House Bill 2.
Richmond already serves as the home of the ACC Women's lacrosse and Atlantic 10 Women's basketball tournament. Now, with ACC soccer, baseball, swimming and tennis all seeking new sites, organizers are preparing to look at options for hosting the events.
ACC Commissioner John Swafford knows the conference will have to act fast to find new homes for the championships moving out of North Carolina, but it's a hardship he's willing to undertake for the right reason.
"When you're making decisions on principles, you don't pick and choose in terms of specific championships," Swafford remarked.
Eight events are all seeking new destinations, and Richmond hopes to be right in the mix for consideration.
"We have the history, they understand what we can bring to these events and that certainly helps," explained Danielle Vincenti, Senior Sports Development Manager for Richmond Region Tourism.
Vincenti and her colleagues are extremely interested in bringing some of these games to the River City, and once the ACC gives them the venue requirements, such as stadium capacity, they'll see which would fit best.
"We certainly have an idea of what it takes to bring in a tournament or championship or event. The amount of manpower, budgeting purposes, hotel room night needs, that sort of thing that go into it and a lot of times, it's years in advance that we start preparing for these events," she shared.
It would be a quick turnaround process for a typically long process as both the men's and women's soccer tournaments are slated to start at the end of October, but whatever the timetable, Richmond Region Tourism continues to map out what's possible.
Landing another ACC Championship would be music to the ears of Virginia Lt. Governor Ralph Northam, who has been making a push for the NCAA to bring events to the Commonwealth.
In a statement to NBC12, Northam said he commends the NCAA and ACC for its inclusiveness, and that he and the administration work hard to make sure Virginia is open and welcoming for all.
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