McCrory Responds To NCAA Pulling Games

CHARLOTTE, NC– “It’s been a long hard battle, up against HB2 so I think this sends a very clear message how discriminatory this bill is,” said Crystal Richardson with Equality NC.

Equality NC says its happy to see the NCAA take a stand against HB2 by pulling seven championships from North Carolina. Some worry this could lead to Charlotte losing even more high profile sporting events.

“First we had the NBA pulling the All Star game, then the NCAA the fact it’s March Madness in what is a college basketball mecca I think that’s what really got people stirred up,” said Erik Spanberg with the Charlotte Business Journal.

As of right now Charlotte still has two big events locked in. In 2015 the belk bowl brought in $16.3 million and the ACC football championship game with $32.4 million. But Eric Spanberg with the Charlotte Business Journal says there’s real fear the hits could keep coming.

“The more bad publicity that surrounds something then other people start to question say what a minute should we be doing this and you’re seeing that already with the ACC in particular,” said Spanberg.

Governor Pat McCrory responded in a statement Tuesday saying he strongly encourages institutions to let the judicial process play out with HB2 but says “sadly, the NCAA, a multi-billion dollar, tax-exempt monopoly, failed to show this respect at the expense of our student athletes and hard-working men and women.”

Equality NC says its past due for the governor to stop any more damage.

“I don’t know what more it will take but I hope he gets it soon because time is running out we’re extremely hurt by this,” said Richardson.

Right now the ACC is committed through 2019 with Charlotte. They have released a statement saying HB2 needs to be repealed and they are reviewing what to do next.