Posted on May 23, 2009 - 09:46 PM

ACC Baseball Tourney Heading to Myrtle Beach: Random Thoughts

http://www.mbsun.com/assets_c/2009/05/ACC logo-thumb-248x297.jpgSome thoughts from the Atlantic Coast Conference's recent announcement that it will host its annual baseball tournament in Myrtle Beach from 2011 to 2013:

The move falls right in line with the area's continued emphasis on sports tourism. Though the City of Myrtle Beach did not officially partner with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on the minor league team's bid to woo the tournament, the two entities expect to work in tandem to make it a success. Given the city's ongoing success with hosting the Beach Ball Classic basketball tourney in December, and its recent addition of high-profile, high school all-star games in football and basketball, both the Pelicans and the ACC will have an experienced hand to help guide them.
How much of a draw can we expect this event to be in this market? Recent ACC tournaments in Jacksonville have drawn as many as 73,000 fans - leading the Sun News to ponder its potential impact on the local economy in the wake of lost revenue from the May bike rallies. Don't know if it can fill that void on its own, but it could go a long way. The last time an ACC team played a post-season game in Myrtle Beach (Clemson vs. Coastal Carolina, 2007), BB&T Coastal Field was packed with just as much Clemson orange as hometown Chanticleer teal. Myrtle Beach is centrally located for most ACC schools, and you can count on the ACC's powerhouse programs within a few hours' driving distance (Clemson, North Carolina) to have a strong representation.
The NAACP denounces the move, but its local chapter president supports it. Who's right on this one?

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