Raleigh-Wake County Bring MEAC Tournament to Town

6/3/2005

Deal Will Keep MEAC Tournament In Raleigh Through 2008; Tournament Slated To Begin March 6 through March 11 At RBC Center

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Council of Chief Executive Officers, consisting of the Presidents and Chancellors from each MEAC member institution, voted to award the 2006 MEAC Basketball Tournament to Raleigh. The partnership is a three-year deal that will keep the tournament in Raleigh until 2008. 

Dr. James C. Renick, Chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University, MEAC Commissioner Dennis E. Thomas, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker, and Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb made the official announcement at a press conference held this afternoon in Mayor Meeker's office.

The bid from the City of Raleigh/Wake County pledges up to $550,000 a year to host the MEAC Tournament for the next three years. This includes contributions of up to $200,000 a year from both Raleigh and Wake County. Additionally, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau is contributing $100,000 a year and the Centennial Authority, which owns the RBC Center where the tournament games will be played, is guaranteeing a $50,000 annual contribution. Gale Force Holdings, which operates the RBC Center, is providing the arena for the MEAC Tournament.

"On behalf of the Council of Chief Executive Officers and all of the MEAC member institutions, I'd like to express our excitement with the MEAC Tournament moving to Raleigh/Wake County, " said Chancellor Renick. "Raleigh is a great place and we think that this move will provide a first class venue for all of the MEAC schools. "

"We are excited about the MEAC Tournament coming to Raleigh-Wake County," Mr. Thomas said. "Raleigh is one of the most progressive cities in the country and they have demonstrated that they know how to market and build a successful tournament. The MEAC is on the verge of phenomenal growth and I think that the City of Raleigh and Wake County can surely help us achieve our goals."

Wake County Commissioner Harold Webb added, ""Raleigh/Wake County is an appealing and central location for the MEAC's 11 fine institutions, their students and their fans -- from Delaware to Daytona Beach. I am convinced this historic partnership will benefit everyone."

Mayor Meeker said he sees Raleigh/Wake County as "a destination for college, high school and amateur sports."

"In the past few years, we have embraced these types of sports events," the mayor said of the MEAC Tournament. "We see the MEAC Tournament as being good for Raleigh and Wake County from a business perspective as well."

Mayor Meeker pointed to projections showing the MEAC Tournament will have a significant economic impact on Raleigh/Wake County from 2006-2008, bringing additional tax revenues and a large number of fans who will stay in area hotels and motels.

It is projected the 2006 MEAC Tournament will attract 55,000 fans, with a projected economic impact on the area of $4.4 million, including bookings for 5,500 hotel room nights. Attendance for the 2007 Tournament is projected at 72,000, with 8,000 hotel room nights booked and an economic impact of $6.5 million. The projected numbers for the 2008 Tournament are 90,000 in attendance, with approximately 10,000 hotel room nights booked and an economic impact of $7.8 million.

The MEAC Tournament Committee received bids from Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Baltimore and Richmond, Va., which hosted the basketball tournament the last seven years. After visiting most of the cities, the committee submitted their recommendation to the Council of CEOs, who made the final decision in late May.

The MEAC Tournament is held during the first week of March and consists of all 11 members in both men and women's basketball.  The tournament also features a host of ancillary events, including the MEAC Cheerleading Championships. The RBC Center is set to play host to the 2006 Tournament, scheduled for March 6-11.

MEAC

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), an NCAA Division I conference, is in its 35th year of operation, dating back to 1970. Located in North Carolina in the heart of downtown Greensboro, the MEAC is made up of 11 outstanding, historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman College (Daytona Beach, Fla.); Coppin State University (Baltimore, Md.); Delaware State University (Dover, Del.); Florida A&M University (Tallahassee, Fla.); Hampton University (Hampton,Va.); Howard University (Washington, D.C.); University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (Princess Anne, Md.); Morgan State University (Baltimore, Md.); Norfolk State University (Norfolk, Va.); North Carolina A&T State University (Greensboro, N.C.); and South Carolina State University (Orangeburg, S.C.).

For more information:

MEAC Contact: Michelle Jinks at (336) 275-2645 or jinksm@themeac.com.

City of Raleigh Contacts: Jayne Kirkpatrick (919) 890-3100 or jayne.kirkpatrick@ci.raleigh.nc.us; or John Boyette (919) 890-3106 or john.boyette@ci.raleigh.nc.us.

Wake County Contact: Sharon Brown (919) 856-7330 or sbrown@co.wake.nc.us.

 

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