The ACC today announced that it is "pulling all neutral site championships" in '16-17 from the state of North Carolina, including its football title game, due to the state's controversial HB2 law. The football championship has been played at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium for six years and was "set to remain" there through '19 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/14). The conference "announced the decision after its Council of Presidents concluded its meetings" in Clemson, S.C. The council had met yesterday and today (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 9/14).
| ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS LEAVING NORTH CAROLINA |
| SPORT |
DATE |
CITY |
| Women's Soccer |
Nov. 4-6 |
Cary |
| Football |
Dec. 3 |
Charlotte |
| Men's/Women's Swimming & Diving |
Feb. 15-25 |
Greensboro |
| Women's Basketball |
March 1-5 |
Greensboro |
| Men's/Women's Tennis |
April 26-30 |
Cary |
| Women's Golf |
April 21-23 |
Greensboro |
| Men's Golf |
April 21-23 |
New London |
| Baseball |
May 23-38 |
Durham |
Meanwhile, sources said that Orlando is the "prohibitive favorite" to host the football title game. Orlando officials "will meet" with ACC officials tomorrow (
TWITTER.com, 9/14). The ACC also reportedly "reached out to FedEx Field to ask about availability" for the event (
TWITTER.com, 9/14).
USA Today's
Nicole Auerbach tweeted, "I'd argue the NCAA/ACC decisions to pull events that have been in NC for so many years is a bigger impact than NBA pulling All-Star Game." Fox Sports'
Stewart Mandel: "If that doesn't jostle lawmakers, I don't know what will. No state is more synonymous with a conference than the ACC & North Carolina." Uproxx Sports'
Martin Rickman: "First the acc killed the big east and now the acc is going to kill #hb2 and pat mccrory’s political career." Fayetteville Observer's
Myron Pitts: "The Governor Who Lost the ACC. That's an accomplishment @PatMcCroryNC can proudly leave to posterity. #HB2"
