State of Florida awarded 42 NCAA National Championship Events
The NCAA announced hosts for 82 of its 89 championships for the 2014-18 seasons and the State of Florida leads the way as the state with the most championship site selections with 42.
The site selections include events hosting both men’s and women’s championships and the selected cities represent 39 states across the United States. Overall 29 NCAA Championship events will be held in 16 Florida communities in 10 different sports.
“The selections show the efforts put into sports tourism in the State of Florida,” said John Webb, President of the Florida Sports Foundation. “It’s really great to see the sports commissions, convention and visitors bureaus, universities and venues put these successful bids together that result in an enormous amount of visitors and economic impact for the state of Florida. There’s some really good momentum going on right now with sports tourism and hosting events. We will work together to continue this trend.”
The original pool of bids included 1,984 submissions. The sites were selected by the respective sport committees, made up of coaches and administrators from NCAA member schools and conferences, and ultimately approved by the appropriate divisional championships cabinets or committees.
“We really want to thank everyone who put in a bid,” said Mark Lewis, NCAA executive vice president of championships and alliances. “The competitiveness of the bids made it extremely difficult for the sport committees to select sites as there just weren’t spots for all of the great bids we received. Ultimately the sites that were selected will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans the best experience possible.”
The bidding process began in July and final submissions were due in mid-September. Each sport committee, per division, then selected the host sites it believed would provide the ultimate experience for the competing student-athletes.
The State of Florida has plenty of experience hosting high profile NCAA events, hosting the 1999 Final Four, the 2008 Women’s Final Four, the 2012 Frozen Four, the Divisioin I Women’s Volleyball National Championships and four BCS Football National Championships.
2014-18 NCAA Championship Sites
DIVISION I REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPORT, ROUND, DATE, VENUE / CITY, HOST
(M&W) Cross Country, Regional, November 14, 2014, Apalachee Regional Park/Tallahassee, Florida State University
(M&W) Cross Country, Regional, November 11, 2016, Apalachee Regional Park / Tallahassee, Florida State University
(W) Gymnastics, Regional, April 2, 2016, Stephen C. O’Connell Center / Gainesville, University of Florida
(M) Ice Hockey, Frozen Four, April 7-9, 2016, Tampa Bay Times Forum / Tampa, Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Rowing, Championship, May 25-27, 2018, Nathan Benderson Park / Sarasota, University of Central Florida
(W) Soccer, College Cup, December 5-7, 2014, FAU Stadium / Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach County Sports Commission
(W) Soccer College Cup, December 2-4, 2016, Orlando City SC Stadium / Orlando, University of Central Florida and Central Florida Sports Commission
(W) Soccer, College Cup, December 1-3, 2017, Orlando City SC Stadium / Orlando, University of Central Florida and Central Florida Sports Commission
(M&W) Outdoor Track & Field, Regional, May 28-30, 2015, Hodges Stadium / Jacksonville, University of North Florida and City of Jacksonville
(M&W) Outdoor Track & Field, Regional, May 26-28, 2016, Hodges Stadium / Jacksonville, University of North Florida and City of Jacksonville
(M&W) Outdoor Track & Field, Regional, May 24-26, 2018, USF Track and Field Stadium / Tampa, University of South Florida and Tampa Bay Sports Commission
DIVISION II REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPORT, ROUND, DATE, VENUE / CITY, HOST
(M&W) Cross Country, South Regional, November 7 or 8, 2015, The Abbey Course, Saint Leo, Saint Leo University/Tampa Bay Sports Commission
(M&W) Cross Country, South Regional, November 5 or 6, 2016, The Abbey Course, Saint Leo, Saint Leo University/Tampa Bay Sports Commission
(M&W) Cross Country, Championship, November 19, 2016, The Abbey Course, Saint Leo, St. Leo University/Tampa Bay Sports Commission
(M&W) Cross Country, South Regional, November 4 or 5, 2017, Halloway Park, Lakeland, Florida Southern University/Central Florida’s Polk County Sports Marketing
(M) Golf, Regionals, May 2-4, 2016, Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills, Sunshine State Conference
(M) Golf, Championship, Reunion Resort, Kississimee, May 22-26, 2017, Sunshine State Conference
(W) Golf, Regionals, May 3-5, 2016, Stonebrook Golf Club, Pace, University of West Florida
(W) Lacrosse, Championship, May 19-20, 2018, UT Lacrosse Stadium, Tampa, University of Tampa/Tampa Bay Sports Commission
Rowing, Championship, May 25-27, 2018, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Fla., University of Central Florida
(M&W) Soccer, Championship, December 3-5, 2015, Ashton Brosnaham Soccer Complex
Pensacola, University of West Florida
(M&W) Tennis, Championship, May 10-13, 2017, Sanlando Park, Altamonte Springs, Rollins College/Central Florida Sports Commission
(M&W) Outdoor Track & Field, Championship, May 26-28, 2016, IMG Academy, Bradenton, University of Tampa and IMG Academy
(M&W) Outdoor Track & Field, Championship, May 25-27, 2017, IMG Academy, Bradenton, University of Tampa and IMG Academy
(W) Volleyball, Championship, December 10-12, 2015, Martinez Athletic Center, Tampa, University of Tampa/Tampa Bay Sports Commission
DIVISION III REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
SPORT, ROUND, DATE, VENUE / CITY, HOST
(M) Golf, Championship, May 16-19, 2017, Mission Inn / Howey-in-the-Hills, Oglethorpe
(W) Golf, Championship, May 8-11, 2018, Mission Inn / Howey-in-the-Hills, Oglethorpe
Rowing, Championship, May 25-27, 2018, Nathan Benderson Park / Sarasota, University of Central Florida