GREENSBORO, N.C. — For the first time in three years, fans filed into the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on Tuesday to tip off a historic event in a historic arena.
Many would say Greensboro is its birthplace and rightful home.
The ACC Tournament has been held in Greensboro 29 times now, beginning in 1967.
Over half of ACC Tournaments have been held in the city where the league began.
But in recent years the tournament has moved around more frequently, visiting Brooklyn, Charlotte and Washington, D.C., among other cities.
No announcement has been made about where the tournament will reside after 2024 when it goes back to D.C.
The league's headquarters moves to Charlotte in 2023, and many locals in Greensboro and ACC die-hards fear the ACC Tournament will permanently vacate Greensboro.
"I am concerned the tournament will move to the Charlotte area after the next few seasons," Eric Davis, of Kernersville, said. "I do realize it's all about revenue though."
The North Carolina state legislature promised the league $15 million if the ACC stayed headquartered in the state for at least the next 15 years.
Another stipulation was that the ACC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments must be played in the state four times over the next 10 years, including two men's tournaments in Greensboro.
So the event will return, but when, and how often? That's the concern.
"My first tournament was when Ralph Sampson was a freshman. Fond memories," Dru Rothrock, of Martinsville, Va., said. "If it's too far away, I won't go."
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.