The 2008 Southern Conference basketball tournament will be held at the North Charleston (S.C.) Coliseum and the 2009 and 2010 tournaments were awarded to McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn. following a vote of the league’s athletic directors this morning.
“Our membership is fortunate to have two strong destinations on either end of the Conference’s geographical footprint,” said Commissioner John Iamarino. “We are coming off one of our best tournaments ever in greater Charleston and hope to build on that momentum there next year. Chattanooga has pledged a strong corporate and local community effort for 2009 and 2010.”
North Charleston, S.C. hosted the recent 2007 tournament and has been the site of five of the last six Southern Conference tournaments. Chattanooga previously hosted once, in 2005.
The 2007 tournament attracted the largest collegiate basketball crowd in building North Charleston Coliseum as 8,009 attended the March 3 championship game between Davidson and College of Charleston. A total of 27,711 fans attended the most recent tournament.
Chattanooga served as host of the 2005 tournament. The championship attracted 24,596 fans, an average of 4,091 per session.
The SoCon Tournament over the last decade:
1998- Greensboro, N.C. Attendance: 16,216 (3,250) - Champion: Davidson
1999- Greensboro, N.C. Attendance: 19,411 (3,235) - Champion: College of Charleston
2000- Greenville, S.C. Attendance: 34,274 (5,712) - Champion: Appalachian State
2001- Greenville, S.C. Attendance: 16,389 (2,732) - Champion: UNC Greensboro
2002- North Charleston, S.C. Attendance: 28,354 (4,726) - Champion: Davidson
2003- North Charleston, S.C. Attendance: 24,895 (4,149) - Champion: East Tennessee St.
2004- North Charleston, S.C. Attendance: 24,914 (4,157) - Champion: East Tennessee St.
2005- Chattanooga, Tenn. Attendance: 24,596 (4,091) - Champion: Chattanooga
2006- North Charleston, S.C. Attendance: 18,988 (3,798) - Champion: Davidson
2007- North Charleston, S.C. Attendance: 27,722 (5,542) ? Champion: Davidson