For decades, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Women’s Basketball Tournament has felt like a North Carolina rite of March —fans piling into cars along Tobacco Road and heading to Greensboro, the self-proclaimed “Tournament Town.” But this year, the familiar pilgrimage has taken an unexpected detour.
Instead of the Greensboro Coliseum, the ACC has planted its basketball flag in Duluth, Georgia — 28 miles from downtown Atlanta and several hours from the Triangle.
This one-year interruption at Gas South arena poses an interesting challenge. Depending on the infamous A-Town traffic, which reflects a population of 6.3+ million people, that trip can be a 35- to 75-minute heart palpitating drive primarily due to the diversity of driving skills on the road. Some folks are just not comfortable driving at high speeds, slowing down, accelerating fast, and having to avoid the zealous Dale Earnhardt Sr. wannabes weaving in and out of lanes seeking an advantage. Being “born and bred” in Greensboro, the ACC looks and feels like a North Carolina tradition. It’s like assigning our pork barbecue (vinegar-based in the east, tomato-based “Lexington-style” in the west) or Calabash seafood to the state of California. Some things are just meant to go together. With all the apprehension about the pairing of the tournament with a city of ~32,000 residents that has very little — if any — of a sport brand, devoted ACC fans are making the drive or taking the flight.
What are the 13,000 seat Gas South arena hiccups that the ACC leadership must consider for future tournaments? Firstly, the arena is very cold due to the ice beneath the court. Even though the league introduced its new court logo that is colorful and quite noticeable, it is not enough to offset the seemingly freezing temperatures. That is, the Atlanta Gladiators, a minor league affiliate of the Nashville Predators, have been skating their way to victories in this facility since 2003. The number of fans wearing jackets, hats, and layers of clothing seated in the arena and walking the concourse is noticeable.
Second, the five- to six-hour drive from the Triangle can be a turnoff for retirees, who are a large part of ACC women’s basketball fandom, who prefer not to drive at night or in heavy traffic. Even though the gigantic peach on I-85 in Gaffney, SC makes one giggle and perk up and Greenville, SC is an attractive stop to refuel and rest a bit, some might just prefer to just lounge on their comfy sofa and cheer for their team at home. Lastly, do the economic considerations warrant a discovery trip to a town most people had to look up on a map to find? Does the car need a tune-up before the road trip? With the fluctuating price of oil to due global geopolitics, increasing hotel and restaurant prices, and a visit to the tournament store for souvenirs is often a $100+ expense, who can afford the excursion?
Well, it might be a close call in terms of whether the ACC decides to play another tournament in Duluth because it appears the fans like the venue and location. Starting with the second round of action on Thursday, there were a great deal of Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans and orange clad Clemson Tiger supporters in the building providing a bit of heat to offset the chilly environment. By Friday’s quarterfinal round, the lower bowl was nearly full of energized fans who were hoping for a victory or basking in another team’s glory. The “hometown” team, Georgia Tech, brought great energy and won a game before coming up short. Always known for their great fan base since Coach Kay Yow built the Wolfpack into a national power, the Wolfpack supporters are the loudest and largest in number. Despite their quarterfinal loss, the Wolfpack, wearing their red and white colors with pride, love basketball and stay cheering on other teams except UNC.
The highlight for many who attend the event in Greensboro, and now Duluth, is observing the hundreds of middle schoolers who get their first taste of ACC mania by having an experiential education to the tournament site. I can only imagine the learning objectives designed by the teachers to justify this very southern ritual of bussing children to watch college basketball games. With all the scrutiny on public education, I am surprised that administrators have not succumbed to the pressures to eliminate any curriculum that doesn’t enhance one’s ability to secure a job soon regardless of a student’s age or offer a perspective on the history of Western civilization. To be honest, I found myself smiling and laughing at the young people’s fervent cheering, dancing, and screaming at all the game activities not to mention when someone scores a basket. It is sheer joy for these youngsters, and they brighten the atmosphere for the most glum fan!
The 2027 tournament is scheduled for Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, but no future sits have been publicly announced beyond that. The 2028 might be a return to Gas South Arena, Spectrum Center, Greensboro Coliseum, or somewhere else within the eastern footprint of the league. The bidding wars should be strong considering the high interest and investment in women’s basketball. The stars are being made and showcased in the ACC.
Now, let’s not waste time thinking for a second that the ACC would schedule the tournament in the Bay area or the Northeast. This institution only works where there is limited sports competition, avid basketball fans, and heartfelt southern hospitality. The folks at Gas South have displayed plenty of charm and kindness to warm over out-of-state visitors. The Food Hall has a diverse selection of cuisines ranging from farm-to-fork options, wood-fired pizza singles (thin crust), all kinds of hot dogs, vegetarian burgers, and burritos. So, if one has the funds, can make the time, loves a good road trip, and appreciates women’s sports, a drive or flight south is worth it.
The country’s longest-running NCAA Division I women’s basketball tournament surely deserves the best. Go ACC!
Featured photo via ACC Women’s Basketball on X.
Dr. Deborah Stroman is a consulting professor for UNC and Virginia, sports businesswoman, former basketball player, and columnist. She contributes to Chapelboro through covering women’s college basketball and her “Never Too Far” column about society and culture, while also hosting “If You Only Knew” show and “Stroman on Sports” segment for 97.9 The Hill WCHL.
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