MEAC tourney looks for traction, home
Roscoe Nance
BCSP Correspondent
The Mid Eastern Athletic Conference basketball tournament is looking for a future home after Raleigh, N.C., Mayor Charles Meeker informed Commissioner Dennis Thomas by fax last month that his city was not interested in hosting the week-long event after this year.
The MEAC brought its men's and women's tournament to
Raleigh two years ago, signing a three-year contract, after the city lost the
highly successful CIAA tournament to Charlotte.
Thomas says he "was totally surprised'' to receive the fax
from Meeker since the mayor had indicated over the summer that he
wanted to extend the contract. Thomas says when he met with Meeker in
October the extent of the conversation was to extend the contract.
The tournament is scheduled this year for March 10-15.
Thomas said the conference stopped looking for a new site for the tournament based on his discussions with Meeker. The manner in which Meeker informed Thomas that Raleigh was no longer interested in hosting the MEAC tournament was as upsetting to the commissioner as the news itself.
"I didn't get a phone call or anything,'' Thomas says. "I was disappointed not to get a courtesy call. I let him know that I at least deserved a call.''
When Meeker and Thomas spoke, the mayor told him that Gale Force Holdings, which operates the RBC Center the site of the tournament wanted additional money from the contract.
Thomas now turns his attention to finding a new home for the tournament. Norfolk (Va.), Richmond (Va.), Winston-Salem (N.C.) and Fayetteville (N.C.) have been mentioned, but Thomas says he is unable to comment beyond saying several cities are interested in hosting it.
"The future is bright for the MEAC Tournament,'' he says, adding that he hopes to have identified a new home by summer.
Winston-Salem State University athletic director Chico Caldwell, a member of the Greater Winston-Salem Sports Commission, told the Winston-Salem Journal he is in favor of Winston-Salem hosting the tournament. He also said the commission hadn't discussed the MEAC tournament. If Winston-Salem lands the tournament, games would be played at the 14,500-seat Joel Coliseum.
The Virginian-Pilot of Newport News, Va., reported that Mayor Paul Fraim of Norfolk wants his city to bid for the tournament, which would be played at The Scope, which seats 10,000.
The MEAC tournament has failed to generate the excitement and fan interest that is associated with the older and more established CIAA tournament, which attracted 100,000 fans for the 2005 tournament, its last over a six-year stay in Raleigh, before moving to Charlotte where it has continued its success.
Attendance for the MEAC tournament has increased in its two years in Raleigh. The week-long tournament drew 23,000 fans in 2006, its first year in Raleigh. That figure increased to about 30,000 last year. The RBC Center seats more than 19,000.
"We've been very pleased with our growth and how we've increased attendance since we left Richmond (previous host of the tournament),'' Thomas says. "We're getting there.''
Still, the CIAA tournament, with its more than 60-year history and rich tradition, is the yardstick by which black college tournaments are measured. The MEAC tournament compares poorly to it as it struggles with attendance and stability.
"People are going to compare what they compare,'' Thomas says. "We have no control over that. Commissioner (Leon) Kerry and the CIAA have done an outstanding job. We applaud them for the work they've done over the years. We're trying to make the MEAC tournament the best it can be.''
In the meantime, the CIAA tournament remains the hotter of the two tickets, and the popularity gap between the postseason events isn't showing any signs of decreasing.
A fraternity in Southern Maryland, for example, is sponsoring a $5 raffle to benefit its scholarship fund. First prize is a trip to the CIAA tournament, which includes airfare, hotel accommodations and $300 cash. Second prize is a 42-inch plasma TV. Third prize is $500 cash. Fourth prize is two tickets to the MEAC tournament.
Hoping to boost attendance and interest for this year's tournament, the MEAC has arranged for arch-rivals Winston-Salem State and North Carolina Central to play a game between the men's and women's championship games on March 15. Winston-Salem State will become eligible for the MEAC tournament during the 2009-10 season. North Carolina Central also hopes to join the MEAC and would be eligible for the tournament in 2010-2011
Thomas said other entertainment and ancillary events aimed at making the tournament more attractive will be announced in the near future.
© 2008 Azeez Communications, Inc.