Albany
To Host 2004 SIAC Basketball Tournament
Conference tournament to be held March 3-6 at Civic Center
April 20, 2003
Albany, Georgia has been selected to host the
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball championships
in 2004.
SIAC Commissioner Dr. William Lide announced Albany’s
selection Thursday at a press conference at the Albany
Civic Center, where the men’s and women’s tournaments
will be held March 3-6, 2004.
“It is a privilege for the SIAC to partner with the
City of Albany to host one of this country’s longest-running
and most established tournaments,” Commissioner Lide
said. “It will be extremely beneficial for both the Albany
community and the SIAC on a national and regional level.”
Albany City Manager Janice Allen Jackson said she is grateful
for the confidence the SIAC exhibited in Albany’s ability
to host the basketball championships. She also said she is
confident Albany will prove to be a worthy host.
“The SIAC is rich in athletic history, from the likes
of Bob Hayes to Albany State University’s Alice Coachman,
the first American woman to win Olympic gold in track and field,” said
Ms. Jackson. “We are looking forward to more SIAC history
being made in our community.
“From the quality of the competition venue to the willingness
of our citizens to offer first-class hospitality, we think
we will be the ideal SIAC host.”
As the SIAC basketball championships’ host, Albany will
welcome athletes, students, alumni, faculty and fans from throughout
the Southeast. The City of Albany will work with a community-based
host committee to ensure the tournament is mutually successful
for the SIAC, SIAC-member universities and the Albany community.
“Already, the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau
and representatives of Albany’s tourism and hospitality
industry have demonstrated their willingness to take on key
roles for the tournament,” Ms. Jackson said. “In
fact, the teamwork that has already gone into this effort has
been phenomenal.”
The SIAC is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
and participates at the Division II level. The member universities
are Albany State; Benedict; Clark Atlanta; Fort Valley State;
Kentucky State; LeMoyne-Owen; Miles; Morehouse;
Paine; and Tuskegee.
“Albany worked diligently to earn this opportunity to
host our tournament. Marketing the SIAC and the City throughout
the year cannot help but being a major benefit to everyone,” said
Commissioner Lide.
