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For Immediate Release: May 16, 2016

SEC ANNOUNCES GREENVILLE AS SITE FOR 2017 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ‐ The Southeastern Conference has awarded the 2017 SEC Women's Basketball

Tournament to Greenville, S.C., the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and VisitGreenvilleSC, Commissioner

Greg Sankey announced today. Greenville previously hosted the SEC Women’s Basketball

Tournament in 2005.

“The SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament is an important event for our Conference and I am pleased

we will be returning to Greenville after a 12‐year absence,” said Sankey. “Greenville is a dynamic city

that I believe will enthusiastically embrace our event and create lasting memories for our student‐

athletes. We look forward to making Greenville our Women’s Basketball Tournament home in 2017

and I am hopeful this will open the door for future SEC championship events to be held in the state of

South Carolina.”

The 2017 tournament will be played in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena which is a state‐of‐the‐art

sports and entertainment venue. “We are excited for the tournament to return to Greenville,” said

Beth Paul, General Manager of the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. ”The Arena offers a fantastic

experience for student athletes and fans and it is an honor to host the SEC when they return to

Greenville in 2017.”

Visitgreenvillesc, the destination marketing organization for the community, worked with the

Greenville Arena District to secure this event for the City of Greenville. “At the core of the Greenville,South Carolina travel experience lies a simple truth: ‘Where Happy People Gather, There Must be

Something Good Going On,’” said Chris Stone, President of Visitgreenvillesc.

“As Mayor of the City of Greenville, I am honored that the SEC has chosen our city to host the 2017

Basketball Championship,” said Mayor Knox White. “Greenville is a vibrant, exciting city with a world

class arena directly adjacent to our award winning Downtown. We look forward to hosting the

players and fans and being a part of the tournament.”

Tickets for the 2017 SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament will go on sale in early October.

The SEC Women's Basketball Tournament was previously announced for Nashville in 2018, 2022 and

2026.

In the women’s tournament's history, 14 cities have hosted; Albany, Ga. (1987‐1992); Athens, Ga.

(1984, 1986); Baton Rouge, La. (1981); Chattanooga, Tenn. (1993‐1997, 1999‐2000); 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); and North Little Rock, Ark. (2003,

2006, 2009, 2015).

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ABOUT THE BON SECOURS WELLNESS ARENA

Located in Greenville, SC, the Bon Secours Wellness Arena is a 15,000‐seat sports and entertainment

arena that hosts live events including family shows, sporting events, concerts, minor league hockey,seminars and conventions. Club seats, party suites and luxury suites with premium concierge services

are available in the arena. The Bon Secours Wellness Arena is managed by the Greenville Arena

District.

ABOUT VISITGREENVILLESC

VisitGreenvilleSC is a non‐profit, economic development organization that is responsible for

promoting the greater Greenville area as an attractive destination for meetings, conventions,

tradeshows, sporting events, and leisure travelers. As the official sales and marketing organization of

the City and County of Greenville, the goal of VisitGreenvilleSC is to increase visitor‐generated

revenue from local, regional and national markets, thereby strengthening Greenville’s economy.