Charlotte is bidding to win back the CIAA
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Michelle Obama waves as Johnson C. Smith University cheerleaders cheer during the CIAA Tournament at the then-Time Warner Cable Arena in 2012 in Charlotte. Photo: Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Charlotte is preparing its bid to reclaim the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament for 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Why it matters: The CIAA tournament is an annual celebration of Black culture and HBCU pride, featuring a week of festivities like concerts, parties and entertainment. It had a 15-year run in Charlotte from 2006 to 2020, generating tens of millions in economic impact annually.
- The Division II HBCU basketball tournament and its surrounding events packed hotel rooms, from Salisbury to Rock Hill, and was a major boon for Uptown.
Catch up quick: Baltimore outbid the city for the 2021 tournament, a painful loss for Charlotte's HBCU alumni, including council members Malcolm Graham, a Johnson C. Smith alum, and James Mitchell, a North Carolina Central alum.
- Some suggested Charlotte took the tournament for granted and failed to offer competitive incentives.
By the numbers: In 2019 — the last tournament in Charlotte before 2020, a COVID year — the CIAA generated $43.7 million in economic impact and drew approximately 140,000 fans.
The big picture: Bringing the tournament back could massively boost Uptown's revitalization and tourism as corporate travel remains slow post-pandemic.
- Graham says the city turns "electric" during the CIAA — "It was like a homecoming for the historically Black colleges and universities in the northeast."
- Some businesses enjoyed the bulk of their annual profits from the event, Mitchell says. The tournament also exposes teens to higher education.
- He credits the CIAA with raising the city's profile, proving it could host a large-scale event and helping Charlotte secure the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
The latest: The City of Charlotte, Charlotte Sports and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority are collaborating to prepare the bid, due in mid-April.
- Charlotte filed a letter of intent to bid, CRVA confirmed.
- CIAA will select a host city before the 2026 tournament.
- Few details are known yet about what Charlotte may offer to lure the CIAA, as it's still a work in progress. Graham says Charlotte doesn't want to "show their hand" during the competition.
- "We view this bid not only as a chance to host the tournaments but as an opportunity to strengthen and renew the bond between the CIAA and the Charlotte community," said CRVA CEO Steve Bagwell.
State of play: Charlotte offers two strong arenas for games: Bojangles Coliseum and Spectrum Center, which recently completed the first round of $245 million renovations. More upgrades are planned in the NBA offseason.
- The CIAA relocated its headquarters to Charlotte in 2015, and this year, its football championship is moving from Virginia to Durham.
- Mitchell says he hopes to strengthen their bid by promising more in scholarships for member schools.
Yes, but: Baltimore, which is hosting the tournament through 2026, has a strong case to remain the host city. The CIAA has called Baltimore the "perfect destination," citing its high Black population and proud amplification of Black culture.
- When the tournament was held in Charlotte, the rhetoric surrounding the tournament often came with undertones of racism, as highlighted in op-eds at the time. A hotel came under fire for surcharging during the tournament, and violent incidents were often blamed on the crowds.
What they're saying: "Our city's diverse and welcoming community is eager to support and celebrate the CIAA, ensuring that its presence in Charlotte is met with the respect and enthusiasm it deserves," Charlotte's Jan. 27 letter of intent reads.
The bottom line: Winning the tournament back isn't a given, Graham says. "We've got hard work to do with heavy loads to lift in order to defeat an incumbent like Baltimore, as well as other cities that are competing for the tournament.
- "It has to be a very competitive proposal, and there's some hurdles and questions that we have to answer locally to ensure that's the case."