https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/coll...39414.html

When the ACC agreed to a four-year deal to hold its baseball tournament at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park beginning in 2015, both the league and the Bulls hoped that Durham could be the event’s permanent home just as Omaha, Nebraska, is for the College World Series.

However, a change in International League scheduling policy prevents the Durham Bulls from blocking out the dates needed for the tournament to be held at the DBAP, their home stadium.

Since the Bulls can’t guarantee they won’t be at home, the ACC can’t consider the stadium as a place to hold the 12-team tournament.

“In the past, we’ve been able to block off the dates,” Bulls general manager Mike Birling said. “The league, over past year, decided to go in a path of no longer allowing certain protected dates. At this point we just weren’t able to hold the dates. We’re obviously disappointed, but we understand. We are one of 14 teams in this league and we have to abide by what the league wants.”

In order to house the event, the Bulls have to be on the road for seven consecutive days.


But allowing teams to block out dates complicates creating the International League’s schedule so the protocol has been changed.

Louisville housed the tournament in 2017 when the ACC took all its championship events out of North Carolina due to House Bill 2. It was held at Louisville Slugger Field, home of the International League’s Louisville Bats.

But Louisville, like Durham, is now unable to block dates and bid for the ACC tournament due to the International League’s policy change. The same goes for Charlotte’s BB&T Park, home of the Charlotte Knights.

(05-07-2019 08:08 PM)WakeForestRanger Wrote:  https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/coll...39414.html

When the ACC agreed to a four-year deal to hold its baseball tournament at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park beginning in 2015, both the league and the Bulls hoped that Durham could be the event’s permanent home just as Omaha, Nebraska, is for the College World Series.

However, a change in International League scheduling policy prevents the Durham Bulls from blocking out the dates needed for the tournament to be held at the DBAP, their home stadium.

Since the Bulls can’t guarantee they won’t be at home, the ACC can’t consider the stadium as a place to hold the 12-team tournament.

“In the past, we’ve been able to block off the dates,” Bulls general manager Mike Birling said. “The league, over past year, decided to go in a path of no longer allowing certain protected dates. At this point we just weren’t able to hold the dates. We’re obviously disappointed, but we understand. We are one of 14 teams in this league and we have to abide by what the league wants.”

In order to house the event, the Bulls have to be on the road for seven consecutive days.


But allowing teams to block out dates complicates creating the International League’s schedule so the protocol has been changed.

Louisville housed the tournament in 2017 when the ACC took all its championship events out of North Carolina due to House Bill 2. It was held at Louisville Slugger Field, home of the International League’s Louisville Bats.

But Louisville, like Durham, is now unable to block dates and bid for the ACC tournament due to the International League’s policy change. The same goes for Charlotte’s BB&T Park, home of the Charlotte Knights.

The ACC made more money and had better attendance in Greensboro than Durham.

I'd like to see Greenville, SC get some consideration (if it's eligible).

(05-07-2019 10:45 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  I'd like to see Greenville, SC get some consideration (if it's eligible).

Was going to post this. https://goo.gl/maps/UfFmQve89aRcggRz7

I Imagine Greenville and/or the Red Sox affiliate would be willing to pony up for extra seating to be permanently installed.

https://www.milb.com/greenville/ballpark...allparkmap

After Greenville I would probably look at Richmond, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Norfolk.

I think you *really* want to place the non-revenue sports tournaments in cities within the footprint that cannot ordinarily host you. It's a way to connect with fans you don't normally get to.

(05-08-2019 08:07 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  After Greenville I would probably look at Richmond, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Norfolk.

I think you *really* want to place the non-revenue sports tournaments in cities within the footprint that cannot ordinarily host you. It's a way to connect with fans you don't normally get to.

I'd love it to be in my hometown of Richmond (where we'll be moving back to in a few weeks from NoVA), but The Diamond is so outdated I doubt it gets a look right now. Maybe that will change once VCU and the Flying Squirrels get their new digs in a few years, but that's easily 3-5 years down the line from happening.

That being said, Richmond would be an excellent location for any ACC Tournament once they have the necessary facilities in place. If they can ever figure out a replacement for the Coliseum (see a trend here with Richmond?), I wouldn't be shocked if it ends up being considered for ACC or NCAA basketball tournament games. The city is ideally located off I-95, the restaurant/brewery scene is fantastic, and it's generally on the upward swing. Plus it's in the heart of the ACC's footprint.

USA Baseball is located between Raleigh and Chapel Hill (Cary, NC). It currently doesn't have the capacity. I think it is around 1200. However, it does have 3 additional fields. That could help with early round scheduling and allow more practice time. And it wouldn't hurt to have ACC baseball associated with USA Baseball.

I believe they have an additional 4 softball fields which might be OK for practice.

Greensboro holds the record for the number of fans ever to see a college baseball game in the state of North Carolina.

https://www.milb.com/greensboro/ballpark/stadium

Perhaps Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. It will no longer be the Braves' spring training home and don't have a Florida State League franchise. I understand that the Braves Gulf Coast League team is moving as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champion_Stadium