USC will not submit NCAA host bid in '17, will for '19-'22

PER USC release

The University of South Carolina and the Columbia Regional Sports Council will not submit a bid to host the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds, school officials announced Wednesday.

The lack of availability of full service hotel properties for the dates (March 17-19) precludes USC and Columbia from hosting the event.

USC and Columbia has put in a bid to host NCAA Men’s Basketball First and Second Rounds for the years of 2019-22. Full service hotel properties are reserved for those dates, should USC and Columbia be selected as a host.

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“Colonial Life Arena, the University of South Carolina and Columbia would be a tremendous host for the NCAA First and Second Rounds,” said USC Director of Athletics Ray Tanner. “However, the short turnaround time of hosting the event in 2017 made it difficult to secure available full service hotel properties to have the NCAA Tournament here. We look forward to hosting the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in the future."

The Columbia Regional Sports Council is working with the USC Athletics Department in attempting to bring the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament to Colonial Life Arena. This decision does not impact the ability for USC and Columbia to host the 2017 NCAA Women’s Basketball First and Second Round Tournament, should the program merit hosting the event.