The NCAA has reopened its bid process to determine new locations for seven championships in the 2016-17 season after a decision by the Board of Governors this week to relocate the competitions originally awarded to North Carolina. Bids are due from prospective hosts Sept. 27, and the NCAA hopes to decide on new sites by Oct. 7.
The seven championships now available in the bid process are:
- 2016 Division I Women’s Soccer Championship, College Cup: Dec. 2 and 4.
- 2016 Division III Men’s and Women’s Soccer Championships: Dec. 2 and 3.
- 2017 Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, first/second rounds: March 17 and 19.
- 2017 Division I Women’s Golf Championships, regional: May 8-10.
- 2017 Division III Men’s and Women’s Tennis Championships: May 22-27.
- 2017 Division I Women’s Lacrosse Championship: May 26 and 28.
- 2017 Division II Baseball Championship: May 27-June 3.
Prospective hosts that have not completed an anti-discrimination questionnaire also will have to submit the form as part of the bid process. The questionnaire includes information about any local anti-discrimination laws, provisions for refusal of services and other facility-specific information.
The NCAA Board of Governors, which represents all three NCAA divisions, made the decision to relocate the seven championships from North Carolina because of the cumulative actions taken by the state concerning civil rights protections. The board said that laws in North Carolina make it challenging to guarantee host communities could deliver on the commitment of promoting an inclusive atmosphere for all student-athletes, coaches, administrators and fans if the events remained in the state.
The bid process for NCAA championships that will be held during the 2018-19 through 2021-22 seasons closed in August. The respective sports committees, composed of representatives from NCAA schools, will continue to evaluate those bids and responses to determine which locations can host future championships. These decisions, typically announced in early December, will be delayed until next year.