INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee has announced that Springfield, Mass. will host the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Elite Eight.
“The committee is excited about going back to Springfield,” said Rich Sanders, chair of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee and director of athletics at Northwest Nazarene University. “It is a tremendous venue for our event. The staffs at American International College and the Hall of Fame make sure the student-athletes, coaches and fans all have a first-class experience.”
The event will be held at the MassMutual Center, with American International College and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame serving as the hosts. The dates of the competition will be March 24, 25 and 27 in 2010 and March 23, 24 and 26 in 2011.
“The Hall of Fame is always pleased and proud to continue our efforts in bringing world class events to Springfield” said John L. Doleva, President & CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We look forward to welcoming these outstanding student athletes, their fans and alumni to Springfield for many years to come.”
Echoing the local enthusiastic response, Craig W. Cote, AIC Vice President for Institutional Marketing & Community Engagement said “At AIC, we believe in being a good neighbor to the region where we work, live and play. Our renewed commitment to the Tournament is one of the many ways in which we support local youth and the area economy.”
Representatives of the NCAA national office staff will be visiting Springfield in the near future to explore ways to continue the unprecedented growth that the Springfield community has been able bring to the Men’s Elite Eight. The Elite Eight has been responsible for creating a positive economic impact of between $1.5 and $2.0 million dollars annually within the local Springfield community.
“As the longtime home of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield has built its reputation around the celebration of the game first played in its gymnasiums more than a century ago,” said Tom Jernstedt, NCAA Executive Vice President. “As the host city of the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Championship on 20 previous occasions, it has woven the rich history of the sport with the extraordinary showcase of NCAA student-athletes with the backdrop of a community and region that has embraced the event as its own. We are pleased to see the tradition of this championship continue its growth in the birthplace of the game of basketball.”
Springfield has hosted the event 20 times previously, including the last four years which have featured historically successful attendance numbers and an enhanced schedule of Championship Week events. With the addition of the next two years, Springfield will have hosted the event on 22 occasions; one more than the 21 times Evansville, Ind. has served as hosts.
“The City of Springfield is thrilled to be hosting the NCAA Division II Elite 8 Championship once again” said Springfield Mayor Dominic Sarno. “As the home to the Basketball Hall of Fame, we are always especially happy to celebrate Springfield’s unique place in basketball history. By hosting the Championship for a record breaking 22nd time, Springfield can truly take pride in our special relationship with this wonderful Event.”
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