ESPN reports that the Atlantic Coast Conference is looking into holding its men’s basketball tournament in New York City in response to its changing membership. Greensboro hosts the tournament through 2015 but the conference is now looking for sites for 2016 through 2021. In addition to the Big Apple, Atlanta (Philips Arena), Charlotte, Greensboro, Tampa, and Washington D.C. are still in the running. Miami, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Atlanta (Georgia Dome) submitted bids but have been eliminated.
As we’ve previously noted, Charlotte’s arena seating disadvantage compared to Greensboro makes it unlikely that the event will be in the Queen City all that often. The more northern schools the ACC adds, the greater the pressure to hold the ACC tourney north of North Carolina more often, which further cuts into Charlotte’s chances.