NCAA pulls 7 Championship events from North Carolina, Providence bidding to host basketball

By Ana Bottary

abottary@abc6.com

@anabottary

Providence- Thousands flocked to providence this past March, to watch 8 college basketball teams battle it out during March Madness. Tourism officials are excited at the prospect of hosting again.

"We would be thrilled to welcome the men’s basketball tournament back to Providence this year," says Martha Sheridan, of the Providence Warwick convention & visitors bureau.

North Carolina was slated to host 7 NCAA championship events in 2016 and 2017, however they were stripped of the privilege due to the states laws regarding the LGBT community. Most notably, a refusal to allow transgender people to use the restroom consistent with their gender identity.

So it’s back to the drawing board to collect city bids, and Providence, who estimates about a 3 million dollar economic impact from hosting last year, is stepping forward to show their interest.
 
“Providence has already been vetted already by the NCAA relative to these issues. As far as I know we would be compliant with what the NCAA is looking for,” adds Sheridan.
 
Placing a bid to host the tournament here in Providence again this year was a no brainer for the general manager of the Dunkin Donuts Center.
 
"We knew we had a great track record with the NCAA so why not?  We had to move some dates around here around the building which our tenants the Providence Bruins have been very gracious to explore. We’d love to get them back. Its great for the city," says Lawrence Lepore, General Manager of the Dunkin Donuts Center.

Lepore says last year with sell out crowds, and the open container law waived, things went off without a hitch.

"If we can duplicate what we did last year, it would be a terrific event," adds Lepore.

Providence is also bidding on the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 for this tournament. The city’s bid to host the tournament must be in by September 27th. The decision will be made by mid October.

(c)WLNE-TV 2016