Records reveal how Charlotte could bring back CIAA college basketball tournament in 2027
Charlotte will face hotel and meal requirements as well as a potentially competitive contest as the city tries to bring the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s basketball tournaments back to town.
City and tourism officials confirmed in mid-February Charlotte would bid for the 2027, 2028 and 2029 men’s and women’s tournaments. It hosted the Division II HBCU events from 2006 to 2020, generating an estimated $600 million in economic impact. But the CIAA moved the tournaments to Baltimore in 2021 amid a drop in attendance and allegations of price gouging by some hotels.
League Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker welcomed the news of Charlotte again bidding for the event.
“We anticipate the submission of a competitive bid,” she said in a statement.
Local leaders haven’t disclosed details of Charlotte’s bid. But documents obtained by The Charlotte Observer through a public records request shed light on the city’s plan to win back the tournament and competition it will face.
CIAA tournament host city requirements
The CIAA will consider factors including “tournament venue, hotels, and host city support, associate commissioner Marcus Clarke said in a statement.
The league’s request for proposals, obtained via a records request, provides more details on what the CIAA is looking for in a winning bid. It calls for a local organizing committee to cover “all competition venue rental fees” and operational expenses such as security, ushers and ticket takers.
Host cities must have a local ordinance or state law banning unauthorized ticket reselling at the competition venue. The venue must have at least 7,500 seats, “including all suite, club and hospitality areas with direct view of the playing floor,” as well as locker rooms, meeting space and media spaces.
The CIAA must “control all ticket sales and ticket revenue for the championship” and decide whether the venue can sell alcohol during the tournaments.
Host cities have to designate a hotel as “headquarters” for the tournaments that can accommodate a block of 500 rooms for CIAA staff, sponsors, game officials, media and guests at a rate of no more than $200 a night. Cities also must reserve 25 rooms for each school playing in the tournament near the competition venue at rates between $99-$125.
The request also says cities should work with the league on blocks of hotel rooms for fans at a rate of no more than $225 per night.
Host cities will be responsible for a daily meal or meal stipend for participating teams, a transportation stipend for the teams and providing approximately 300 volunteers.
The CIAA will pay for food and beverages inside the competition venue and printing tickets and credentials. The league gets “100% of all ticket revenue” as well as revenue from merchandise, media rights and sponsorships.
The host cities get revenue from parking and food and beverage sales at the venue and some complementary game tickets.
In addition to requirements laid out in the request for proposals, the league’s guidance also suggests “enhancements” such as:
Hotel stipends for teams
Establishment and support of an annual academic award or recognition
Community activities such as concerts
Sponsorship or support of events such as a student-athlete awards banquet, Hall of Fame or career fair
What will Charlotte’s CIAA tournament bid include?
Charlotte’s letter announcing its intent to bid highlighted the city’s “dynamic blend of world-class venues, thriving cultural attractions, and unmatched hospitality” but was short on further details.
City Council member Malcolm Graham previously told the Observer the city doesn’t want to “tip its hand” during a competitive bid process but will work with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, the state of North Carolina and other partners on its bid.
“We will circle the wagons with organizations and institutions that can really help us craft a bid that will be compelling,” he said.
Public records provide some insights into Charlotte’s thinking as it crafts its bid.
A presentation shared by the CRVA with some City Council members lays out “major deal points to address”:
- A hotel package calling for a maximum nightly room rate of $125 for teams, $200 for staff and $225 for fans.
- A venue package including the Spectrum Center, Bojangles Coliseum and Charlotte Convention Center. The presentation notes there’s a potential scheduling conflict at the Spectrum Center in 2027 between CIAA tournament dates and previous commitments to host the ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA tournament games.
A minimum of $1.5 million in fundraising for scholarships.
The presentation also lists many of the “bid enhancements” included in the league’s request for proposals as “areas of possible additional investment to distinguish Charlotte from other destinations.”
It says Baltimore benefited from “reasonably priced hotels” in previous bids in addition to $1.2 million in scholarship funding, recent arena renovations and a sizable volunteer corps.
Representatives from the CRVA and Charlotte City Council will attend this year’s tournaments in Baltimore, according to the public records.
Who else is bidding for CIAA tournament?
Charlotte will likely face opponents for the tournament beyond Baltimore, according to the records.
The CRVA’s presentation and the request for proposals list 10 cities as “invited to bid”:
Charlotte
Baltimore
Raleigh
Greensboro
Richmond, Virginia
Philadelphia
Columbia, South Carolina
Savannah, Georgia
Washington, D.C.
Charleston, South Carolina
When will CIAA announce tournament host city?
Cities must submit their bids by April 15, according to the league’s request for proposals.
CIAA officials will review bids and conduct site visits in April and May followed by in-person presentations in June and the announcement of the winning host city.
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
