Mayor Battle welcomes Conference USA Championships to Huntsville
Published on April 6, 2023
Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod made the announcement at Propst Arena on Thursday, April 6. The multiyear agreement is for two seasons with an opportunity to extend.
“We are very excited to have our men’s and women’s basketball teams compete for a conference championship and berth in the NCAA tournament at Propst Arena in Huntsville,” MacLeod said. “We can’t wait to partner with the City, Sports Commission, CVB and Knight Eady to put on a first-class event for our student-athletes, universities and fans while enjoying all Huntsville has to offer.”
The 2024 C-USA Basketball Championships will take place March 12-16. The conference champions receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
“We are proud to welcome the Conference USA men’s and women’s basketball championships to Huntsville and our renovated Propst Arena,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. “We can’t wait to showcase our great city to all the student-athletes, coaches, fans, and alumni attending the event.”
Huntsville will be the ninth location to host the C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship and the 14th host city for the C-USA Women’s Basketball Championship. Both championships have been held in Alabama previously, from 2015-17, in Birmingham at Legacy Arena (men’s and women’s) and Bartow Arena for the women’s championship in 1996.
“Providing an exciting and enjoyable championship atmosphere for the student-athletes is our top priority, and I believe all of the teams traveling to the Rocket City will love their experience here,” said Mark Russell, Executive Director of the Huntsville Sports Commission. “Huntsville is a great destination – not just to visit, but for sports – and I’m thrilled Conference USA is entrusting our team to host a high-caliber event like the C-USA Basketball Championships here. We can’t wait!”
“Bringing a piece of March Madness to Huntsville has been a goal for our community and this is a great opportunity to have the road to the Final Four start here,” said Joel Lamp, Sports Manager for the Huntsville/Madison County CVB. “Conference USA has a national brand that will provide a larger platform for Huntsville to shine. This has been a tremendous team effort from all of our partners and we appreciate the confidence the Conference USA leadership has in our vision to provide a championship experience at Propst Arena.”
“Knight Eady is proud to support the Huntsville Sports Commission and the Huntsville/Madison County CVB in hosting elite basketball in the city of Huntsville,” said Cline Thompson, VP of Business Development at Knight Eady. “We believe sport has the power to change lives and impact communities in valuable ways. Our goal is to create an experience for the student-athletes, Conference USA and the fans that matches the premium standard of Huntsville. There’s a reason it is recognized as the top ranked city in the country.”
Ticket information will be announced this fall at www.ConferenceUSA.com .