Greensboro lost the 2020 ACC Tournament because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, the Gate City got the league’s premier event back in 2021 for the same reason.
The ACC announced that its annual men’s basketball tournament, originally scheduled to be played at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., in March, has been moved to Greensboro Coliseum because of COVID-19 concerns.
The newly relocated tournament is set for March 9-13. Washington will now host the event in 2024.
“The ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament has enjoyed terrific experiences and hospitality at Capital One Arena,” commissioner John Swofford said in a statement announcing the change. “We look forward to returning to Washington, D.C., and appreciate Greensboro for welcoming and accommodating us during these unique and challenging times.”
Greensboro has hosted the ACC Tournament 27 times, more than any other venue. That includes the shortened 2020 edition last March, which was halted on the morning of the quarterfinal round. It was the first time in the 66-year history of the conference that the tournament was not completed.
In order to make up for the lost opportunity, Swofford promised that the ACC would bring the tournament back to Greensboro as soon as possible. That turned out to be 2023. But because of the coronavirus crisis, the wait will now be even shorter.
The 2022 tournament is scheduled to be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The 2021 ACC Women’s Basketball Tournament will also be held at Greensboro Coliseum, as previously announced, from March 3-7.
