Monday it was the NCAA. Wednesday it’s the ACC. The Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents announced today 10 league championships will not be played in North Carolina this year because of House Bill 2.
This decision does not affect every ACC Championship game but it does affect most. Football, baseball, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and more (see details below)
As for the men’s basketball championship, that was already scheduled to be played in New York.
But this does mean Charlotte will not host the ACC football championship game.
In a brief statement the Conference’s governing body stated the ACC’s “commitment to uphold the values of equality, diversity, inclusion and non-discrimination.” “We believe North Carolina House Bill 2 is inconsistent with these values,” they added, “and as a result, we will relocate all neutral site championships for the 2016-17 academic year.”
ACC Commissioner JohnSwoffordwent further. “Today’s decision is one of principle, and while this decision is the right one, we recognize there will be individuals and communities that are supportive of our values as well as our championship sites that will be negatively affected.”Swoffordleft open the change that future ACC Championship games could return to North Carolina – but didn’t go so far as to say just what changes would be needed in the law in order to bring those games back.
Neutral site championships include:
Women’s Soccer - Cary, Nov. 4 & 6
Football - Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium - Dec 3
Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving - Greensboro, Feb. 15-18
Women’s Basketball - Greensboro, March 1-5
Men’s and Women’s Tennis - Cary, April 26-30
Women’s Golf - Greensboro, April 21-23
Men’s Golf - New London, NC, April 21-23
Baseball - Durham Bulls Park, May 23-28
Stay tuned to WFAE for reactions from state and city officials.
Copyright 2016 WFAE
