CHARLESTON WINS MOUNTAIN EAST CONFERENCE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR 2018

Once again next year, Charleston will host the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament for the Mountain East Conference, which includes 12 colleges and universities throughout West Virginia and beyond. The conference announced its decision for the 2018 tournament venue in a news release today.

"Working closely with the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, leaders of the two Mountain East Conference institutions in our area, several volunteers and generous sponsors, our community stepped up to improve hospitality for the 2017 tournament here and to lay a foundation for an even better event next March,” said Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. “While we had hoped to win a three-year bid, a scheduling conflict at the Charleston Civic Center for 2019 means that we are moving forward for only 2018 at this time.”

The MEC’s preferred dates for the 2019 tournament conflict with the Girls’ State High School Basketball Tournament, which is already scheduled for the Charleston Civic Center that year.

“Our goal is to build on the progress we made in 2017, make the 2018 event the best one in the history of the conference and leave a strong, lasting impression that will make everyone associated with the Mountain East want to come back to Charleston every year they can,” the Mayor added. “I especially want to thank Dr. Ed Welch, President of the University of Charleston, for his candor and wisdom as our hospitality team has discussed ways to make this event as effective and enjoyable as possible in our city.”

The tournament is scheduled for Feb. 28 – March 4, 2018.