Tigers, CAA hoops tourney to D.C.

June 19, 2018

This story was originally published Monday on TowsonTigers.com

Any Cinderella stories for the Tigers will begin in the nation's capital in upcoming years.

The Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) announced Monday that it has reached an agreement with Events DC to host the 2020, 2021 and 2022 CAA Men's Basketball Championships at the new Entertainment & Sports Arena (ESA) in Washington, D.C.
 
"This is exciting on a number of fronts," Towson University Director of Athletics Tim Leonard said. "We'll be going into a brand new building for our conference tournament. It's a true neutral site in a neutral market. Lastly, we get to play in the nation's capital, which is easily accessible and convenient for all of our fans."
 
The first CAA Men's Basketball Championship in Washington, D.C. will be held March 7 – 10, 2020. Future tournament dates are March 6 – 9, 2021 and March 5 – 8, 2022. The tournament semifinals and championship game will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
 
The Entertainment & Sports Arena is a 4,200-seat state-of-the-art facility which will serve as the home court for the WNBA's Washington Mystics and the NBA G-League's Capital City Go-Go, as well as the training facility for the NBA's Washington Wizards. The building is currently in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to open this September.
 
"To be able to play our conference tournament in Washington, D.C. is tremendous for our program as well as our fans," TU head men's basketball coach Pat Skerry said. "We are excited to play in a brand new facility not too far from our campus. It's also great to know that one of our former basketball players, Lawrence Hamm, is part of the group that submitted a bid to host the CAA Tournament. This is great on many levels for the conference."
 
Washington, D.C. provides a central location for the CAA Men's Basketball Championship. Six of the CAA's 10-member schools are located within 250 miles of our nation's capital and nearly 400,000 alumni from CAA institutions reside within 100 miles of the city. Towson is the closest CAA school to Washington, D.C.
 
"The CAA could not be more excited to announce the new home for its Men's Basketball Championship at one of DC's newest sports facilities, the Entertainment and Sports Arena," CAA Commissioner Joe D'Antonio said. "We are looking forward to working with Events DC to deliver the best possible championship experience for our fans, administrators, coaches and most importantly our student-athletes." 
 
The CAA Men's Basketball Championship has been held at the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum since 2017 and the conference concludes its three-year agreement this March. The conference opened a RFP process this spring to solicit regions and venues for championships in 2020 and beyond. Washington, DC's proposal was supported unanimously by the CAA's Athletic Directors and Board of Directors.
 
"I cannot say enough positive things about the experience the CAA has had in North Charleston and Charleston over the past two years and we look forward to our 2019 men's basketball championship once again being played at the North Charleston Coliseum," D'Antonio said. "Mayor Summey, Frank Lapsley and his staff at the Coliseum, President McConnell, Matt Roberts and the staff at the College or Charleston, and the people of the Lowcountry have shown the CAA great hospitality.  The Conference's Board of Directors made this decision simply because they felt the venue in Washington, D.C. provides the CAA an opportunity to showcase its men's basketball championship at a new facility in our nation's capital that is centrally located within the Conference's footprint."
 
The CAA has built a strong reputation in men's basketball with the league ranking 11th out of 32 Division I conferences in the 2017-18 NCAA RPI. CAA teams have posted 14 NCAA Tournament victories since 2006 and the league has had two teams reach the NCAA Final Four (George Mason – 2006, VCU – 2011). Showing its overall quality and depth, all 10 current CAA members have competed in postseason play since 2012.
 
Along with the action on the court, DC serves as a premier tourist destination. Fans can take advantage of monument tours, the numerous free public museums and the many other historical landmarks and vibrant neighborhoods. The Entertainment & Sports Arena can be easily accessible by car or public transportation with a dedicated Metro Station (Congress Heights) just a few blocks away from the Arena. In addition, there are numerous hotel options within a short distance of the facility.
 
"As the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, Events DC is honored to partner with the CAA to host the 2020 – 2022 Men's Basketball Championships at the future Entertainment & Sports Arena in Congress Heights, Washington, D.C.  The Entertainment & Sports Arena and its surrounding neighborhood will be a new sports and entertainment district for the greater Washington, D.C. area to visit, and having the CAA as a partner will allow DC residents and visitors alike to see some of the best in college basketball," said Gregory A. O'Dell, president and chief executive officer of Events DC.  "DC is a thriving sports destination with some of the most passionate fans and this exciting tournament will allow us to showcase Washington, D.C. as a dynamic sports city on a national stage." 
 
Added D'Antonio: "The CAA looks at our relationship with Events DC as so much more than signing a venue rental agreement. We know that we are entering into a true partnership with Events DC and hope to be able to showcase the Conference's men's and women's basketball brand and our incredibly talented student-athletes throughout the entire season, in other ways than just the men's basketball championship."