ACCCG finally moving

[TheBeast]

GREENSBORO, N.C. ? The Atlantic Coast Conference has awarded its future Football Championship Games to Tampa Bay and to Charlotte, John Swofford, the Commissioner of the ACC, announced Wednesday.

Swofford announced that the league has awarded its football title game to Tampa Bay for the 2008 and 2009 seasons and to Charlotte for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The decision was reached unanimously Wednesday morning on a conference call of the league's athletics directors and faculty athletics representatives which culminated a seven-month bid and selection process which began last June.

The sequencing of the cities was largely influenced by a city-wide convention in Charlotte in 2008, which limited access to key Uptown hotels and ancillary event areas. The awarding of the Championship Game for four years allowed the Conference to meet each city's request to host the event for a consecutive two-year period.

"We are extremely excited about the future of the ACC Football Championship game at these sites,"? said Swofford. "Both Tampa Bay and Charlotte are tremendous destinations in terms of their football venue, community support and partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference. Both locations have outstanding leadership as well as surrounding communities that have embraced the opportunity to continue the growth of our championship game."

The ACC's Football Championship Games on December 6, 2008 and December 5, 2009 will be held at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League, the Outback Bowl, as well as Super Bowls XXXV (2001) and XLIII (2009).

"We are excited about the opportunity to not only host, but to also grow this game to a level that's befitting of the Atlantic Coast Conference,"? said Jeff Adams, Chairman of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. "Based on the overwhelming support we have received from the Tampa Bay community, we are confident that we will meet and exceed the ACC's expectations."?

The Conference's title games on December 4, 2010 and December 3, 2011 will be held at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"Charlotte is delighted to have been chosen to host the 2010 and 2011 ACC Football Championship Games,"? said Tim Newman, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

"With many amenities coming on line by 2010 including the NASCAR Hall of Fame and several new hotels and entertainment venues within walking distance of Bank of America Stadium, ACC fans will have a great time in Charlotte for those games.

"We wish Tampa Bay much success for 2008 and 2009 and look forward to bringing the
Championship to a great centralized location for all ACC Fans in 2010 and 2011. Many fans will get a preview of what Charlotte now offers when we host the 2008 ACC Men's Basketball Championship next March."?

The first three Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Games were held in Jacksonville, Fla.

Ticket information for the 2008 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game can be found by visiting http://www.accchampionship.com.

[imported_Coach]

bout time.

[89bluedevil]

Is Tampa really any better than Jacksonville? Perhaps somewhere in South Carolina or where the Redskins play.

[BlueWahooChambordDevil]

tampa is better than jax only because the loser of the ACCCG is still likely to get a return trip there for the gator bowl

[89bluedevil]

That may be true, but I don't see how the attendance would be any better for the championship game in Tampa.

[imported_mega]

Anytime BC is in the championship game, the attendance is going to be bad. It really doesnt matter where it is. There are no traditional powerhouses in the ACC when it comes to football so unless Florida State and Miami make the game, there are likely to always be alot of no shows. That goes for Charlotte too if none of the Tobacco Road schools make the game. The ACC title game is never going to be a big thing. The SEC has natural rivalries with a ton of tradition so its usually always a game worth going to. With the ACC, its not like that and BC just doesnt fit. They could play the game in Connecticut and the attendance wouldnt be good for BC. You might get good turnouts from the UNC and Clemson fans, and potentially the GT fans but I have a feeling Charlotte isnt going to do much better either than any of the other places.