FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 2, 2008

 

OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE AND NASHVILLE SPORTS COUNCIL SUBMIT
NASHVILLE’S BID FOR NCAA WOMEN’S FINAL FOUR

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., (June 2, 2008)- Representatives at the Ohio Valley Conference and the Nashville Sports Council announced today that they have submitted an official bid to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee proposing the City of Nashville as a host site of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four.  The bid is for one year between 2012-2016 with the Sommet Center in downtown Nashville serving as the competition venue.

 

In conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Final Four, Nashville would also host the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Convention.  The WBCA is the national association of approximately 5,000 basketball coaches representing all levels of the game, including junior high, AAU, high school, college and professional.  The Women’s Basketball Final Four and WBCA Convention is one of the largest one-time sporting events the City of Nashville can host based on its current facilities.

 

Following the June 2 bid submission deadline, the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee will evaluate the anticipated thirteen bids and pare the list to an undetermined number of finalists in August 2008.  The Committee will then conduct site visits to the finalist cities in the fall of 2008, culminating with an announcement in November 2008 of the five cities that are selected to host the tournament from 2012-2016.

 

The twelve other cities that expressed interest in submitting a bid in addition to Nashville are Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio and Tampa.

 

Music City Bid Leadership Quotes:

 

"Although Nashville is best known as Music City U.S.A., we are also a great American sports city, and the ideal site for the NCAA Women’s Final Four,” said Nashville Mayor Karl Dean. “We enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to work with the NCAA to present the signature event of women’s college athletics."

"This is an exciting opportunity for Nashville.  What better place than Music City to host the NCAA Women's Final Four,” said Nashville Vice-Mayor and Music City Bid Committee Co-Chair Diane Neighbors.  “The committee that prepared our proposal has done an amazing job.  Their love for Nashville and for basketball is evident.  It will take the continued cooperation of the public and private sectors to make this event a success.  Nashville is ready for some basketball."

 

“Nashville is the perfect host city for the Women's Final Four.  The response of our community to this effort has been phenomenal,” said Music City Bid Committee Co-Chair Margaret Behm.  “With Middle Tennessee's long tradition of supporting basketball for girls at an early age to the college ranks, Nashville knows how to showcase this event and make it fun and special for the fans, student athletes and coaches.”

 

"I'm gratified how our community came together and rallied to produce the bid we have submitted," said Dr. Jon A. Steinbrecher, Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner. "This will be a bid that truly represents Nashville. Those of us who live here know we have something very special and that our community would be an outstanding venue in which to host this great event. I want to express my appreciation to the individuals and organizations that have pulled together to work with us in submitting this bid."

 

“We are very pleased with the tremendous community-wide support in preparing this bid,” said Scott Ramsey, President & CEO of the Nashville Sports Council.  “The NCAA Women’s Final Four is one of the premier annual events on the national sports calendar and it would bring tremendous national exposure, prestige and economic impact to our City.”

 

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The Ohio Valley Conference, which is the nation's eighth oldest Division I athletic conference, is in its 60th year of competition in 2007-08. The OVC is comprised of 10 schools that represent five states. Member institutions include Austin Peay State University, Eastern Illinois University, Eastern Kentucky University, Jacksonville State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Tennessee State University, Tennessee Technological University and the University of Tennessee at Martin. For more information call 615.371.1698 or visit OVCSports.com.

 

The Nashville Sports Council is a private, non-profit, membership-based organization of area corporations and individual sports enthusiasts.  Created in 1992, the Nashville Sports Council’s mission is to positively impact the economy and quality of life of the Greater Nashville Area by attracting and promoting professional and amateur sporting events.  The Nashville Sports Council has hosted more than 100 events that have produced nearly $300 million in direct economic impact and is The Driving Force of Sports in Nashville.  For more information, call 615.743.3120 or visit NashvilleSports.com.

 

 

 

Media Contacts:

       

Kyle Schwartz, Ohio Valley Conference        615.371.1698 / KSchwartz@ovc.org

Brian Fulton, Nashville Sports Council          615.642.7133 (cell) / BFulton@NashvilleSports.com