The state of North Carolina has "learned it is being considered once again to host NCAA championship games," according to a front-page piece by Katherine Peralta of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. The NCAA yesterday said that its BOG "voted 'reluctantly' to consider championship bids in North Carolina," and the announcement came "days after the repeal of House Bill 2." The state's newly passed compromise legislation, however, has "faced continued criticism." The NCAA is currently "making championship site selections" for '18-22, and it "plans to announce sites on April 18." Charlotte is "bidding to host men’s basketball tournament games" at Spectrum Center for three years -- '20-22. The NCAA said that championships already awarded for the '17-18 season "will remain in the state." That means Charlotte will "host the first and second rounds of the men’s basketball tournament" at Spectrum Center in March '18 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/5). In N.Y., Marc Tracy writes the NCAA's "carefully worded statement left the door open to its continuing to make decisions on a case-by-case basis and even to retracting hosting opportunities on short notice in light of new developments." The NCAA "gave comfort not only to North Carolina lawmakers but to those in other states" like Texas, who are "considering restrictions similar to those in North Carolina's new law." Although North Carolina's business community saw the NCAA's decision as a "high-profile vindication," critics of the state's new law have "condemned the NCAA" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/5).
NOT EVERYONE IS PLEASED: In Raleigh, Chris Cioffi notes advocacy groups including the NAACP, Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC "blasted the NCAA" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 4/5). In DC, Bradford Richardson & Valerie Richardson write the repeal of North Carolina's bathroom bill "wasn't much of a victory" for college sports. The NCAA yesterday "found itself trapped" between "gay rights groups livid over its decision to place North Carolina back in the mix for championship games, and state Republicans determined to hold the association accountable for its partisan meddling" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/5). In Winston-Salem, Richard Craver writes, "The HB2 repeal mission is accomplished -- minimally" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 4/5).
LOOKING AHEAD: In Dallas, Lauren McGaughy notes supporters of a similar measure in Texas said that the "about-face bolstered their cause." Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said, "We have always said that the Texas Privacy Act was not in conflict with the anti-discrimination goals of the NCAA, and the statement they released this morning makes that abundantly clear." McGaughy notes the NCAA "did not mention Texas at all in its statement" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/5). The OBSERVER's Peralta notes the NBA is "expected to make a decision by the end of this month" about whether to host its '19 All-Star Game in Charlotte (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/5).
