Hot Springs, the number one tourist destination for the
entire state of Arkansas, was selected by the Sun Belt Conference Executive
Committee as the host for the league's annual men's and women's basketball
tournaments from 2009-2011. The
tournament will be played in the city's Summit Arena, which was constructed in
2003 with a seating capacity of 6,000 and adjoins the Hot Springs Convention
Center.
Located 50 miles from Little Rock,
Hot Springs is
visited by 3 million tourists annually and offers more than 4,000 hotel rooms
with 15 restaurants within walking distance of the Summit Arena.
"The Sun
Belt Conference basketball tournament will draw thousands of new visitors to Hot Springs and to our State, and I know that Arkansas's natural
beauty and warm hospitality will make their trip memorable,” said Arkansas
Governor Mike Beebe. “As a big fan of
college basketball, I'm looking forward to some great games. I thank the Sun
Belt Conference for choosing Arkansas, and
congratulate the people of Hot Springs
on an outstanding job in achieving this honor.”
Hot Springs' historic downtown, national park,
and world famous natural hot springs
and spas highlight the resort town also known for its pristine lakes for
fishing and boating. The Magic Springs
Theme Park and Crystal
Falls Water
Park, Garvan
Woodland Botanical
Gardens, and Oaklawn
Park thoroughbred horse
racing help round out the entertainment landscape. The Summit Arena also hosts the Arkansas men's and
women's state high school basketball tournament, attended annually by 56,000
people.
During the Sun Belt's 2006 fall meetings, the conference's
13 institutions voted unanimously to move the annual tournament to a neutral
site beginning in 2009. It was
determined the neutral site must fall within the conference's geographic
footprint, offer an appropriate and first-class arena, promote the championship
locally and offer attractive entertainment.
Tournament specifications and bids were sent to six possible sites, five
cities accepted the Sun Belt's request for a proposal, in-person site
visitations were made to three cities, and two cities made formal presentations
to the Sun Belt's Executive Committee on October 10 at the league's 2007 fall
meetings in Mobile.
Other than 1992 and 1993, when the Sun Belt Conference
basketball tournament was played in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss.,
this will mark the only time the conference tournament has not been played in
the city of one of the Sun Belt schools.
The men's and women's quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals of the 2008
tournament will be played March 8-11 in Mobile, Alabama at the Mitchell
Center on the University of South Alabama
campus. First round match ups will be
played at campus sites. This format,
which was instituted in 2007, will also be used from 2009-2011 in Hot Springs. Four previous Sun Belt Conference tournaments
have been held in the state of Arkansas, as Little Rock hosted the
event in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 2000.
South Alabama and Western
Kentucky University
share the record for most conference tournament titles with five each.
QUOTES FROM SUN BELT CONFERENCE AND HOT SPRINGS PERSONNEL
Sun Belt Conference
Commissioner Wright Waters
“We were fortunate that multiple cities expressed
significant interest in hosting our tournament from 2009-2011, and I would like
to commend our Executive Committee for their diligence in this process. Our conference is committed to growing our respective
basketball leagues, and we previously have had to rely on the host school to
advance in the tournament to sell tickets.
As we transition to a neutral site, we feel a resort destination like Hot Springs will appeal
to all fans. They can watch great
basketball while also having numerous attractive options during their free
time.”
Dr. Sidney McPhee,
President of the Sun Belt Conference and President of MTSU
“Over a
year ago, we decided it was in the best interests of the conference to begin
playing our annual basketball tournament at a neutral site. We received outstanding proposals from a pair
of extremely qualified cities, but our Executive Committee felt that Hot Springs presents a
unique opportunity for our fans to attend the tournament in a first-class
setting while also enjoying a resort destination. This is an exciting
time for the conference, and we are confident our future basketball tournaments
will be a tremendous experience for everyone involved.”
Dr. Gary Ransdell, Executive
Committee Past President and President of WKU
"We look forward to sharing the
Sun Belt Basketball experience with Hot
Springs. It
promises to be a great destination point for basketball fans."
Peg Bradley-Doppes,
Denver Athletic
Director and Representative for ADs on Executive Committee
“Hot Springs Arkansas
is an ideal setting for our Sun Belt Basketball Championships. The community
support, the spectator interest, and the great facilities combined with all of
the wonderful attractions make both Hot
Springs and the Sun Belt Conference Tournament the
place to be. This is a great event in a spectacular city, and we are looking
forward to an exciting championship in Hot
Springs.”
Hot Springs Mayor Mike Bush
“I am
pleased to extend a hearty Hot Springs
welcome to the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament. Hot Springs has a worldwide reputation for
its great hospitality, and our whole city will work extra hard to make sure
everyone has a wonderful time at the games and off the court, too.”
Steve Arrison, CEO of the Hot Springs Convention
and Visitors Bureau
“We are
excited to have the Sun Belt Conference select Hot Springs National park
as the site for their tournament. We are certain that the student-athletes,
parents, conference staff and the thousands of fans who follow Sun Belt
basketball will find Hot Springs a great place to play and watch this great
sports event.”
Scott McClard, Chairman of the Hot Springs Advertising
and Promotion Commission
“What
great news for Hot Springs
to have been chosen as the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament host. Our
city has plenty of exciting attractions, great restaurants, great lodging and
an unexcelled venue ? our Summit Arena ? for players and fans to have an
exciting time while enjoying exciting basketball action.”
