SEC officials said that the conference is "strongly evaluating a relocation" of its media days from its "longtime spot" in Alabama, according to Ross Dellenger of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, speaking yesterday at the conference media days in Hoover, "declined to reveal potential new locations or the timing of a possible move," but "confirmed the league is considering moving around the annual extravaganza." Sankey said Nashville, Dallas and Atlanta were "a pretty good list" of potential hosts. Sankey: "We've got a great tradition here in Hoover. As our footprint has expanded, it's appropriate to look at options." Sankey said that "expanding the league's footprint is a primary reason for the potential move." SEC media days has "never been held outside the Birmingham metro area since its inception" in '85. SEC Associate Commissioner/Communications Herb Vincent confirmed a location that is "not being considered" is New Orleans (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 7/12). In Houston, Brent Zwerneman notes Dallas, despite Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones' "strong connections" to the SEC, "seems a farfetched possibility, considering its far west locale to the heart of the SEC." Jones played football at Arkansas. Fewer reporters "appeared to have traveled" to SEC media days this year "based on growing budget cuts at media outlets, so moving the event far to the west would cut down on attendees even more" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/12).
READY FOR ACTION: Falcons President & CEO Rich McKay yesterday at media days "showed a video and discussed hosting the SEC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium." In Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter notes McKay "confirmed that the new stadium will [be] ready Aug. 26" when the Falcons host the Cardinals in their preseason home opener (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/12).
