Columbia Misses Out on 2027 and 2028 NCAA March Madness Hosting
It’s a bit of a letdown for sports lovers in Columbia, South Carolina, as the city has recently learned that it won’t be hosting any rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2027 or 2028. The news was delivered earlier this month and, according to Scott Powers, who heads Experience Columbia Sports, it’s no surprising twist but still disappointing. The main issue? Columbia just doesn’t have enough full-service hotels to meet the NCAA’s requirements.
A Look Back at 2019
Just a few years ago, Columbia was buzzing with excitement when it broke a nearly 50-year streak and was chosen to host part of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1970. They put on a great event, selling nearly 48,000 tickets for six exhilarating games. The local economy felt a boost of around $11.3 million thanks to all the visitors pouring into town. It wasn’t just about the money, though — it was a chance for Columbia to showcase its charm and hospitality on an international stage!
Challenges Ahead
Fast forward to now, and Columbia is still eager to capture that magic again. Unfortunately, things have become a tad trickier. Each passing year brings more stringent requirements from the NCAA, making it harder for cities like Columbia to meet the criteria needed for hosting. Back in 2019, Columbia got a bit creative to work around its hotel situation, but lately, the NCAA hasn’t been as flexible.
Hotel Room Count vs. Requirements
It’s true that Columbia and the surrounding region have many hotel options – about 160 hotels with roughly 13,263 rooms as of December 2023. That’s actually a nice improvement from December 2019, when there were only 129 hotels and fewer than 12,000 rooms. However, the problem lies in not having the right kinds of hotels that meet NCAA standards. The NCAA is looking for host cities to have at least eight to ten full-service hotels with in-house dining and enough meeting space to keep all the teams comfortably accommodated. Each of the eight competing teams needs its own hotel, which is a big ask for a city that hasn’t seen a new full-service hotel built in nearly two decades!
The Road Ahead
Currently, only four hotels in the region fit the NCAA’s full-service criteria. Scott Powers mentioned that the last full-service hotel that was NCAA-approved to open was the Hilton Columbia Center way back in 2007. Following this latest ruling, Columbia isn’t the only city in the Carolinas facing a similar fate. Charlotte is the only city within the Carolinas that secured a bid for hosting duties.
Powers plans to keep pushing for Columbia to become a host city in the future, although he doesn’t expect any changes before 2030. He suggests that possibly limiting the number of smaller hotels being built downtown in favor of larger projects might help. There are encouraging signs, though, such as plans for a new full-service hotel in the Vista area by developer Ben Arnold and a potential hotel project near the Convention Center.
Staying Positive
Despite this setback, Powers maintains a positive outlook, insisting that Columbia is still a viable option for major events. He points to the success of events like the recent Premier League Rivals in Red match hosted at Williams-Brice Stadium as proof that Columbia can still draw significant events. While it’s clear they may not be hosting a Super Bowl anytime soon, there’s still hope for Columbia to continue rising and shining in the world of sports tourism.
In the meantime, Columbia will keep its fingers crossed for future opportunities and will undoubtedly continue to strive toward hosting significant events once again!
