CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Tuesday that it will relocate its league headquarters from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Charlotte, starting in 2023.
The decision to leave Greensboro for the Queen City was unanimous, according to the announcement from the ACC's Board of Directors, which represents all 15 member schools. The ACC said the move to Charlotte will "ensure that the conference is best positioned for the future and changing dynamics of intercollegiate athletics."
Charlotte's location, growth and access to a large hub airport - serving routes to all member schools - made Charlotte a desirable location, according to a release from the ACC.
The ACC's new league office will be in the heart of Uptown, across the street from Bank of America Stadium at Legacy Union's Bank of America Tower, the same building that is also home to Honeywell.
“Today is a transformational day for the ACC and for our 15 world class institutions," ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said. "We truly appreciate the state of North Carolina for its dedication to keeping the conference headquarters in the state, and the Charlotte leadership for their commitment and ongoing partnership."
Phillips acknowledged leaving Greensboro was difficult. The city has been the ACC's home for 70 years.
"The decision to relocate from Greensboro was a difficult one, and the entire city and its first-class representatives will always hold an incredibly special place in the history and legacy of the ACC," he said.
Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham told WCNC, "This is the kind of advertising you can't afford to buy. It reminds me in 2012, 10 years ago, when the DNC selected Charlotte for our convention, and that put us on the map."
Janet LaBar, CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, said the organization is ready to start marketing the ACC's new home base to future talent and businesses.
"It's a great big deal that Charlotte has been home to so many of the championships and the tournaments," LeBar said. "And there are four schools in the conference that call North Carolina home."
The Charlotte Sports Foundation is another partner in luring the ACC out of Greensboro.
"We are a sports Mecca, this is such a great place," LeBar said. "For sports and entertainment, we continue to see that with all of the teams - professional, minor league, and universities. So we're just really excited to welcome them here."
Cotham added, "I think other cities who wanted this and didn't get it are going to be looking at what the heck are they doing in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County that they're getting this. So you know, we are putting our arms around these people and welcoming them here. And it says a lot about who we are and who we're going to be going forward."
The ACC and Charlotte have enjoyed a long partnership that's included the Queen City becoming the standard host site for the ACC football championship, as well as multiple ACC basketball tournaments and other championships. The ACC football championship is contracted to remain in Charlotte through the 2030 season. The ACC is also a contracted participant in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, played at Bank of America Stadium annually since 2002.
The ACC has 15 member schools across 10 states: Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Louisville, University of Miami, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, U/niversity of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse University, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and Wake Forest University.
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