NCAA pulls seven championship events from NC

Raleigh, N.C. — The NCAA on Monday announced that it would relocate seven championship events from North Carolina to other states based on the organization's commitment to an "inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans."

North Carolina was to host:

• the 2016 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, College Cup in Cary, Dec. 2 and 4;
• the 2016 Division III Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships in Greensboro, Dec. 2 and 3;
• the 2017 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, first/second rounds in Greensboro, March 17 and 19;
• the 2017 Division I Women’s Golf Championships, regional in Greenville, May 8-10;
• the 2017 Division III Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships in Cary, May 22-27;
• the 2017 Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship in Cary, May 26 and 28; and
• the 2017 Division II Baseball Championship in Cary, May 27-June 3.

The NCAA has been closely considering North Carolina's hosting rights since the controversial passage in March of House Bill 2, which which requires people to use public bathrooms that match their birth gender and limits cities and counties from passing laws that protect gay and transgender people from discrimination.

Mark Emmert, NCAA president, said the organization would announce new locations for those events soon.

"It seems that almost every day, we learn of a new consequence of HB2. Hosting the NCAA championship events has long been a point of pride for North Carolina. These tournaments pump money into our economy and give our communities and fans a chance to showcase our incredible tradition of college sports. Now, our ability to host these events at the highest level has been eliminated because of Governor McCrory and HB2," said Ford Porter, a spokesman for Roy Cooper, who is challenging McCrory in the upcoming gubernatorial election.

Meanwhile this fall, the NCAA is considering bids for future championships to be held from 2018 through 2022. According to the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, Wake County venues have bid on 57 of those events, ranging from Division III tennis to the popular men's basketball regional. Those 57 bids equate to nearly $30 million over a four year span.

The decision on those sites, scheduled to be made in December, will be delayed into next year, Emmert said, as the NCAA reads through applications that required each venue to provide information about any local anti-discrimination laws, provisions for refusal of services and other facility-specific information.

“Carolina Athletics is steadfast in its commitment to fairness, inclusion and ensuring that all who come to our campus for athletics events are welcome," said UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham in a statement. "We are disappointed for the people of this great state, the communities that are scheduled to play host to these championship events and to the students who may be denied the opportunity to compete for championships in their home state.”

"We are surprised and disappointed by the NCAA's decision and regret the impact it will have on North Carolina's student athletes, coaches, athletic staffs, fans and the North Carolina communities previously chosen to host these championship events," said UNC President Margret Spellings.

Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams were both out of town recruiting Monday night and were unavailable for comment.​

Duke and Carolina are expected to earn high seeds in the tournament this year, meaning they would earn the right to play close to home. Now that Greensboro has lost the chance to host, the Heels and Blue Devils will have to go on the road for the first rounds and will not get the benefit of playing in front of a friendly crowd like they have in recent years.

The ACC men's basketball tournament, long North Carolina's annual crown jewel of sporting events, is on a rotating list of venues, with New York City's Barclay's Center to host in 2017 and 2018. But the 2019 and 2020 tournaments are already promised to Greensboro.

That gives ACC Commissioner John Swofford some time before he has to make that decision, but the ACC football championship is scheduled for Dec. 3 in Charlotte. He clarified his opposition – both personally and on behalf of the conference – in a statement Monday night.

“HB2 was previously scheduled to be thoroughly discussed at this week’s ACC Council of Presidents meeting, so it would be premature to make any decisions or announcements regarding ACC Championships until our membership is able to discuss. The league’s longstanding commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion will continue to be a central theme to our discussions," Swofford said.

“On a personal note, it’s time for this bill to be repealed as it’s counter to basic human rights.”

In a statement Monday night, the North Carolina GOP issued a statement calling the NCAA's decision "so absurd it's almost comical."

"I genuinely look forward to the NCAA merging all men's and women's teams together as singular, unified, unisex teams. Under the NCAA's logic, colleges should make cheerleaders and football players share bathrooms, showers and hotel rooms," said NCGOP spokeswoman, Kami Mueller. "This decision is an assault to female athletes across the nation. If you are unwilling to have women's bathrooms and locker rooms, how do you have a women's team? I wish the NCAA was this concerned about the women who were raped at Baylor. Perhaps the NCAA should stop with their political peacocking and instead focus their energies on making sure our nations collegiate athletes are safe, both on and off the field."

In 2014, the last time Raleigh hosted the men's basketball regional, Scott Dupree, executive director of the alliance, estimated the value of visitors to the capital city at $5 million. About 10,000 people traveled from out of town for for six games featuring eight teams played over two days. Both the Raleigh Marriot Crabtree and the Comfort Suites across from PNC Arena reported sellouts for that weekend.

Dupree said Monday night that the four canceled events in Cary were expected to generate about 5,300 bookings for hotel rooms and more than $2 million in direct visitor spending.

"College sports is one of our region's most important economic drivers, if not the most important, so this is a significant hit. It's a tremendous loss, and not just economically," Dupree said in a statement Monday night. "I hate it for the town that these championships have been pulled. NCAA events are a central component of Cary's well-earned national brand as a sports destination and championship city."

In moving the promised championships, the NCAA Board of Governors cited "the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections."

"We're disappointed to learn of the NCAA's decision to remove pre-determined championship events from the state of North Carolina. We certainly hope there will be resolution in the very near future," said North Carolina State University Director of Athletics, Debbie Yow. "NC State provides and promotes equal opportunity and non-discrimination to anyone who works, lives, studies, visits or participates in campus events, courses, programs and services."

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest civil rights organization focused on LGBTQ issues, and Equality NC both praised the NCAA's decision to move the championship events from North Carolina in light of HB2.

"The NCAA just sent a clear message to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and state lawmakers that it will not tolerate hateful laws targeting student athletes, fans and employees," said HRC President Chad Griffin.

"From Charlotte to Greensboro to Raleigh and everywhere in between, it has become clear that the shadow HB2 has cast on North Carolina is hurting our economy, our reputation and our people every day," said Rep. Chris Sgro (D-Guliford), who is also the Executive Director of Equality NC.. "Pat McCrory clearly knew that signing HB2 would not just endanger LGBT North Carolinians, but would cost us business, tourism and events like this."

The NC Values Coalition, on the other hand, called the NCAA's decision a display of hypocrisy.

"The NCAA is punishing the state of North Carolina because it dares to stand up for the common-sense notion that everyone has a right to privacy, decency and safety in bathrooms, showers and locker rooms. The NCAA is guilty of extreme hypocrisy- while it bullies the people of North Carolina to allow boys in the girls' locker rooms, showers and bathrooms, it prohibits boys from playing on girls' sports teams," the organization said in a statement.

The NCAA is just the latest to cost the Tar Heel State some sought-after tourism dollars. The NBA pulled its All-Star Game from Charlotte, moving the February 2017 weekend to New Orleans. Data provided to the Charlotte City Council in 2015 suggested that the All-Star Game would bring in approximately $100 million, including $60 million in visitor spending alone.

In addition, performers ranging from the violinist Itzhak Perlman to Cirque du Soleil to rock legend Bruce Springsteen canceled concerts in protest against the law.

"What a disappointment for basketball fans. Add this to the thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars Pat McCrory's discrimination bill have cost North Carolina," said North Carolina Democratic Party spokesman Dave Miranda.

Monday night, Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue called for a special session to vote on bills to repeal House Bill 2 that were filed during a recent short session.

"The cost of holding a special session is a drop in the bucket compared to the continued legal costs, economic costs and damage to our state's reputation," Blue said. "Regardless of what side of the aisle we are on, it's time to take action that is in the best interest of the state."

Democratic senate nominee Deborah Ross agreed that HB2 has harmed the state.

"Today's decision by the NCAA is further evidence of what North Carolinians already know: this law is bad for business and it has hurt our good name. But it's also exactly what happens when folks who are supposed to stand up for our state refuse to show leadership."