Georgia Tech AD Mike Bobinski said that ACC officials last week gave Commissioner John Swofford "full support to negotiate an extension with Charlotte for the ACC Championship Game in Bank of America Stadium," according to Jeremy Fowler of CBSSPORTS.com. The ACC's contract with the city "expires after this season's game on Dec. 7." Bobinski said other cities were not discussed "in any seriousness." Fowler noted the ACC "seems open to a permanent home" (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/7).
|
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP ATTENDANCE TREND
|
|
YEAR
|
VENUE |
MATCHUP |
ATTENDANCE
|
|
'12
|
Bank of America Stadium |
Florida State-Georgia Tech |
64,778
|
|
'11
|
Bank of America Stadium |
Clemson-Virginia Tech |
73,675
|
|
'10
|
Bank of America Stadium |
Virginia Tech-Florida State |
72,379
|
|
'09
|
Raymond James Stadium |
Georgia Tech-Clemson |
44,897
|
|
'08
|
Raymond James Stadium |
Virginia Tech-Boston College |
27,360
|
|
'07
|
EverBank Field |
Virginia Tech-Boston College |
53,212
|
|
'06
|
EverBank Field |
Wake Forest-Georgia Tech |
62,850
|
|
'05
|
EverBank Field |
Florida State-Virginia Tech |
72,749
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHAT'S BETTER, MORE OR LESS? ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy cited sources as saying that because of "limited future bowl opportunities, the five smaller FBS conferences are starting new games in the Bahamas, Boca Raton, Fla., and Miami in 2014." Sources said that the new bowls "will be unique in that the five conferences (American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt) will provide the teams as part of a coalition." A source said, "The old days for one conference to have a deal are dead. It will be very fluid." McMurphy noted the Miami Bowl is "expected to be held at Marlins Park," while the Bahamas Bowl will "be held at Thomas Robinson Stadium and would be the first postseason bowl played outside the United States since the International Bowl in Toronto." A news conference "will be held Oct. 14 to officially announce" that game. The Boca Raton Bowl will "be held at FAU Stadium" (
ESPN.com, 10/7).
