Not to rekindle the on-going love-hate relationship between Charlotte and
Raleigh, but when it comes to the Atlantic Coast Conference possibly relocating
its headquarters, possibly departing Greensboro after nearly 70 years, I ask,
“If Charlotte, why not Raleigh?”Recently, the ACC Board of Directors voted to explore, to look at, moving out
of Greensboro which doesn’t mean Greensboro is losing the ACC headquarters. It
means the ACC will be talking to other cities throughout the ACC footprint that
meet basic criteria.
When
stories about ACC headquarters relocation appear, Charlotte gets mentioned as a
possible replacement headquarters, but Raleigh is not.
“I saw the news and had the same reaction,” Scott Dupree, executive director of
the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, told me in an email when I asked him for a
comment on “If Charlotte, why not Raleigh?” The GRSA is not in the relocation
business. It’s in the recruitment of sports tournaments, events, championships,
and the likes thereof. But he has a strong opinion why the ACC should pick the
Raleigh are
“Based
on the stated criteria from the conference office,” wrote Dupree, “Raleigh and
Cary certainly check the boxes and would without question be strong and viable
candidates. Then you factor in this market’s unmatched passion for ACC sports
and our history with the conference, and it makes a lot of sense. You can make
a compelling case for the Raleigh
region.”
The criteria are simple with both Charlotte and the Raleigh region meeting most
conditions:
- Eastern
Time Zone (check for Charlotte, check for Raleigh);
- Population
size with positive growth trends (check, check);
- Diversity
of population (check, check);
- Large
hub airport with effective accessibility to and from all ACC members (check,
check, except usually air fares to Charlotte are more expensive than those
going through Charlotte to, say, Raleigh);
- Benefit
to the ACC brand and synergies to existing and prospective partners (check,
check); and
- Financial
considerations related to operational expenses (check, check).
There may be other criteria which both cities, the two top population centers of North Carolina, meet. To get a better handle on this, look deeper.
Maybe
the only thing Charlotte has in relation to hosting the ACC headquarters is
Bank of America Stadium, host of the NFL’s Panthers and soon to host a
professional soccer team. It’s the current host of the ACC football
championship game and the Mayo Bowl. It can still be that host without the ACC
headquarters in Charlotte.
ESPN,
which owns the ACC Network, has a studio in Charlotte, but it’s not for the
ACC. It’s for the Southeastern Conference, right in the middle of the ACC’s
geographical footprint. (Actually, there are two ESPN studios in Charlotte. The
second is in the basement of Mark Packer’s home where he and Wes Durham host
the ACC Network’s Packer and Durham morning news and information show Monday
through Friday. All other ACCN studio shows are produced on ESPN’s Bristol CT
campus; what a shame.)
In
addition to the listed criteria, what does Raleigh offer? Re-read the statement
from Scott Dupree. There is an “unmatched passion for ACC sports” here with
N.C. State in Raleigh, Duke in Durham, and North Carolina in Chapel Hill. While
having conference members in such proximity is not necessary (reference
Greensboro with no ACC school), relocation of a conference headquarters should
consider such closeness, giving the Raleigh area a leg up on Charlotte. The
enthusiasm here for the Atlantic Coast Conference should carry over to the revenue side of relocating
to Raleigh.
If
the ACC sets up shop in Raleigh, a full-fledged television studio could be part
of the financial considerations to entice ESPN to locate the ACCN studio
alongside the ACC’s new digs.
That
kind of enticement or package deal is up to groups such as the Raleigh and Cary
Chambers of Commerce and Wake County Economic Development. These are the folks
who are experts in such high-profile relocation efforts. These agencies should
not sit back and yield to Charlotte. Go after the ACC, now!
The
recruiting and relocation of the Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters is not
as sexy to the public as, say, Apple, and it would not generate hundreds or
thousands of jobs, but it would be a giant feather in Raleigh’s (or Cary’s) cap
to have the ACC headquarters in the state capital of college sports.
Causing
Charlotte officials seeking the same to ask, “Why Raleigh?”
