SCHUMER: MAKE ALBANY’S TIMES UNION CENTER ALTERNATE SITE FOR 2017 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT – SCHUMER MAKES CALL TO NCAA PRESIDENT MARK EMMERT TO ADVOCATE FOR CAPITAL REGION
NCAA Recently Pulled 1st And 2nd Rounds Of The Tournament From North Carolina And Is Seeking Bids For Alternate Sites – Schumer Says Times Union Center In Albany Is Perfect Location To Host 2017 Games
Schumer Places Call To Emmert To Push NCAA To Bring Tournament To Albany, Which Has Hosted Games Twice Before – 2017 Games Would Bring Tourism Revenue & Economic Development Opportunities To The Capital Region
Schumer: Hosting NCAA Tournament In Albany Would Be A Slam-Dunk For The Capital Region
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer called the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President, Mark Emmert, to urge him to select Albany’s Times Union Center as the alternate site for the 2017 Men’s Basketball Tournament. As a result of North Carolina’s discriminatory and controversial bathroom law, the NCAA recently announced it would pull the first and second rounds of the tournament from Charlotte and seek an alternate location. Schumer explained that the arena in Albany has submitted a bid to serve as that alternate site, and he argued that it would be an excellent selection. Schumer therefore made a phone call directly to Emmert to advocate for Albany.
“Bringing the NCAA men’s basketball tournament to Albany’s Time Union Center would be a slam-dunk for the Capital Region. Not only has New York always been a national leader in civil rights, but it has also served as host to this tournament twice before – so it is truly prepared to be selected as an alternate site. I called NCAA President Emmert directly to advocate for the Capital Region. I pointed out that that time and time again, the region and, specifically the arena, has delivered successful events for the NCAA, and that I know that Albany could be counted on to deliver for them again in this unique circumstance,” said Schumer.
Schumer said that Albany has always been a great place for the NCAA. The men’s tournament was previously held at the Times Union Center in 1995 and then in 2003. Both times, the arena was filled to capacity and the games were a hot-ticket event. The Times Union Center has also hosted the Frozen Four for hockey and the Women’s basketball tournament previously. In addition, Schumer said New York has always served as a national leader in civil rights, and it would be a powerful statement to the country to host the games in a state that has a strong commitment to equality.
In addition, Schumer said this would be a slam-dunk for the Capital Region, as it would bring economic development opportunities to the area. Specifically, Schumer said these games have the potential to usher in a massive influx of tourism revenue to the region, as visitors viewing the games would also be injecting money into the economy by staying in local hotels, eating at local restaurants and visiting other attractions in the area.
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