Following up a report from earlier this month, it now appears that the NCAA has officially moved the 2021’s men’s championships from Iowa City, Iowa to Greensboro, North Carolina. The meet will take place March 24th-27th, 2021, in the Greensboro Aquatic Center, with NC State serving as the meet host.
While we never saw an official announcement from the NCAA about the results of the vote that was supposed to take place in early October (although we’ve reached out), team schedules (such as South Carolina’s), documents like the list of future championship sites on the official Division I Championships page, and local news stories all indicate that the meet is currently slated to take place in Greensboro.
Initially, Greensboro was slated to host the women’s championships, while Iowa City was to host the men’s championships. But when the University of Iowa man the decision to cut their swimming program, voices within swimming called for the NCAA to move the championships. With the GAC already slated to host the women’s meet the week before, it made sense to make the relatively short notice move to host the men’s meet there as well.
This will be the second time that the women’s championships will be held at in Greensboro, with the GAC having previously hosted in 2015, and it will be the first time the men’s championships will be held there. Additionally, the GAC was the site for the 2016 and 2019 NCAA Division III Championships, as well as the 2018 NCAA Division II Championships, along with many recent ACC Championships, among other high-level meets.
Press release from Greensboro Aquatic Center
The NCAA has announced the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) has been selected to host the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. The Championships will be held March 24-27, 2021, marking the first time the GAC will host this prestigious event.
“The Division I Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Committee is thrilled that Greensboro Aquatic Center was approved as the 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships site,’’ said Katie LeGrand, committee chair and assistant athletics director for compliance at Villanova. “The committee agreed that the venue is the best option for the championship, given the size of the facility and the amenities for our student-athletes at this location. From the deck and additional pool space to available options for student-athlete and spectator spacing, Greensboro Aquatic Center has proven to be a great venue as it has hosted many national and international swimming competitions.”
The GAC had previously been selected to host the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships, which will take place March 17-20.
“The NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships is an event we have pursued since the GAC opened in 2011,” said GAC Manager Susan Braman. “To be able to host the Women’s Championship and Men’s Championship over back-to-back weeks will be a historic opportunity for us. We can’t wait to welcome the top collegiate swimmers and divers to our state-of-the-art venue.”
The GAC has a long history of hosting NCAA championship events, including the Division I Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships in 2015. The GAC has also hosted the NCAA Division II Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving National Championships in 2018 and NCAA Division III Men’s & Women’s Swimming & Diving National Championships in 2016 and 2019.
The Greensboro Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships will bring a combined total of $3M in economic impact to the region.
I hope fans are allowed!
B-b-b-but you mean a Power 5 conference school that drops BOTH women’s and men’s programs can’t host NCAA’s??
Amen.
Good. That area is crazy about swimming and they run outstanding events. Well deserved!
Good. Short drive to see some fast swimming if fans are allowed.