ForImmediateRelease:May16,2016

SECANNOUNCESGREENVILLEASSITEFOR2017WOMENSBASKETBALLTOURNAMENT

BIRMINGHAM,Ala.TheSoutheasternConferencehasawardedthe2017SECWomen'sBasketball
TournamenttoGreenville,S.C.,theBonSecoursWellnessArenaandVisitGreenvilleSC,Commissioner
GregSankeyannouncedtoday.GreenvillepreviouslyhostedtheSECWomensBasketball
Tournamentin2005.

TheSECWomensBasketballTournamentisanimportanteventforourConferenceandIampleased
wewillbereturningtoGreenvilleaftera12yearabsence,saidSankey.Greenvilleisadynamiccity
thatIbelievewillenthusiasticallyembraceoureventandcreatelastingmemoriesforourstudent
athletes.WelookforwardtomakingGreenvilleourWomensBasketballTournamenthomein2017
andIamhopefulthiswillopenthedoorforfutureSECchampionshipeventstobeheldinthestateof
SouthCarolina.
The2017tournamentwillbeplayedintheBonSecoursWellnessArenawhichisastateoftheart
sportsandentertainmentvenue.WeareexcitedforthetournamenttoreturntoGreenville,said
BethPaul,GeneralManageroftheBonSecoursWellnessArena.TheArenaoffersafantastic
experienceforstudentathletesandfansanditisanhonortohosttheSECwhentheyreturnto
Greenvillein2017.
Visitgreenvillesc,thedestinationmarketingorganizationforthecommunity,workedwiththe
GreenvilleArenaDistricttosecurethiseventfortheCityofGreenville.AtthecoreoftheGreenville,
SouthCarolinatravelexperienceliesasimpletruth:WhereHappyPeopleGather,ThereMustbe
SomethingGoodGoingOn,saidChrisStone,PresidentofVisitgreenvillesc.
AsMayoroftheCityofGreenville,IamhonoredthattheSEChaschosenourcitytohostthe2017
BasketballChampionship,saidMayorKnoxWhite.Greenvilleisavibrant,excitingcitywithaworld
classarenadirectlyadjacenttoourawardwinningDowntown.Welookforwardtohostingthe
playersandfansandbeingapartofthetournament.

Ticketsforthe2017SECWomensBasketballTournamentwillgoonsaleinearlyOctober.

TheSECWomen'sBasketballTournamentwaspreviouslyannouncedforNashvillein2018,2022and
2026.

Inthewomenstournament'shistory,14citieshavehosted;Albany,Ga.(19871992);Athens,Ga.
(1984,1986);BatonRouge,La.(1981);Chattanooga,Tenn.(19931997,19992000);Columbus,Ga.
(1998);Duluth,Ga.(2007,2010,2013,2014);Greenville,S.C.(2005,2017);Jacksonville,Fla.(2016);
Knoxville,Tenn.(1980,1983);Lexington,Ky.(1982);Oxford,Miss.(1985);Memphis,Tenn.(2001);
Nashville,Tenn.(2002,2004,2008,2011,2012,2018,2022,2026);andNorthLittleRock,Ark.(2003,
2006,2009,2015).

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ABOUTTHEBONSECOURSWELLNESSARENA
LocatedinGreenville,SC,theBonSecoursWellnessArenaisa15,000seatsportsandentertainment
arenathathostsliveeventsincludingfamilyshows,sportingevents,concerts,minorleaguehockey,
seminarsandconventions.Clubseats,partysuitesandluxurysuiteswithpremiumconciergeservices
areavailableinthearena.TheBonSecoursWellnessArenaismanagedbytheGreenvilleArena
District.

ABOUTVISITGREENVILLESC
VisitGreenvilleSCisanonprofit,economicdevelopmentorganizationthatisresponsiblefor
promotingthegreaterGreenvilleareaasanattractivedestinationformeetings,conventions,
tradeshows,sportingevents,andleisuretravelers.Astheofficialsalesandmarketingorganizationof
theCityandCountyofGreenville,thegoalofVisitGreenvilleSCistoincreasevisitorgenerated
revenuefromlocal,regionalandnationalmarkets,therebystrengtheningGreenvilleseconomy.