CHARLOTTE – The Atlantic Coast Conference football championship game will be played at Bank of America Stadium through the 2019 season. The ACC and the Charlotte Sports Foundation announced the six-year agreement on Monday.
"A pretty easy decision," ACC commissioner John Swofford said. "Charlotte has been an outstanding partner and continues to facilitate the growth and success of this game."
The announcement means the ACC title game will have been played in Charlotte for 10 consecutive years.
"Charlotte is in the heart of the ACC footprint," Swofford said. "It's a terrific destination with tremendous people. It's also home to one of the finest facilities in Bank of America Stadium. My thanks to owner Jerry Richardson and president Danny Morrison of the Panthers for their support of this game, for the tremendous stadium they provide for this region and for the fact that they are actually even improving it as we speak."
Added Charlotte Sports Foundation chairman Johnny Harris: "There won't be a better place to play a championship game than here in Charlotte."
In the previous four ACC title games held at Bank of America Stadium, the game averaged nearly 70,000 fans, including sellout crowds in 2010 and 2011. During those four years, the ACC ranked second among all conferences in championship game attendance.
And with the stadium improvement project underway, ACC fans can expect an enhanced experience.
"(The Panthers) are progressive and are committed to making this the best outdoor sports facility in the country," Swofford said. "They're a tremendously visionary and progressive organization, and it's going to keep one of their greatest assets – this stadium – modern and responsive to the needs of fans going forward."
Said Morrison: "It's not only great for Charlotte, it is great for the region. It's an exciting day. We have a great stadium and now we have an opportunity to make it even better. We think we have the classic American stadium, and with the very best in technology added to that it is just going to be outstanding for the fan experience."
