March 9, 2003

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Atlantic Coast Conference and the Greensboro Coliseum Complex have announced they have reached an agreement on a new five-year contract to host the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament in Greensboro for the years 2005-09.

"The ACC is pleased to announce we are keeping the Women's Basketball Tournament in our home city of Greensboro," said ACC Commissioner John Swofford. "The Coliseum and the city of Greensboro have done a tremendous job hosting the Women's Tournament the previous three years. This year's Tournament, part of our 50th anniversary year, has been even more spectacular. The conference's member institutions have recognized the efforts of the City, the Coliseum and the Tournament Host Committee since we began having the tournament here in 2000, and we're excited about continuing the partnership."

The 2003 ACC Women's Tournament marks the fourth consecutive year the Coliseum has played host to the event (a two-year contract extension was announced in 2001 that kept the Women's Tournament in Greensboro for the 2003 and 2004 seasons). Last year, the Tournament drew a championship game record crowd of 9,204. Its first two years in Greensboro, 2000 and 2001, the Tournament set overall attendance records of 26,655 and 30,058, respectively.

"The support we have received from the community has been outstanding," said ACC Associate Commissioner Bernadette McGlade. "Attendance records have been set each year the tournament has been in Greensboro and we're on pace to break the overall attendance record again this year. This new contract will certainly add to the rich tradition the ACC shares with the City as the Women's Tournament evolves and grows in stature each year."

The Greensboro Coliseum has been the site for 18 ACC Men's Tournaments, the most of any facility, and four ACC Women's Tournaments (including 2003). In addition to the new five-year contract to host the Women's Tournament through 2009, the Coliseum will host the Men's Tournament this year, in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

"The Coliseum Complex is honored to be selected to host the Women's ACC Tournament through 2009," said Coliseum managing director Matt Brown. "Our staff takes a great deal of pride in ensuring the Women's Tournament receives first-class service and attention. We share the conference's vision of growing this Tournament to an unequaled level of national prominence."