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Is the ACC staying in Greensboro? Two other cities could be its new home

The Atlantic Coast Conference is considering relocating to Orlando or Charlotte, according to Guilford County Commissioner Skip Alston.

GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) is considering both Orlando and Charlotte as potential locations to relocate its headquarters, according to Guilford County Commission Chairman Skip Alston.

Alston said Greensboro is still being considered as an option as well.

The ACC announced in October that it was evaluating the location of its corporate office location to include cities beyond Greensboro. 

According to the ACC, the decision comes as part of the ongoing Atlantic Coast Conference comprehensive review and assessments. The league’s board of directors made of 15 members requested independent consultant Newmark start the next phase, expanding their work to include other potential locations. 

RELATED: ACC Board of Directors to expand scope of conference office

When asked about the consideration of Orlando and Charlotte, ACC officials could not confirm any new information other than that they have not communicated any specifics related to any city or timeline for a decision. 

Greensboro has been the home of the ACC for decades and has hosted the most ACC Basketball Championship Tournaments. 

“Greensboro has been our proud home for almost seventy years and will be given thorough consideration to remain so for years to come. We continue to appreciate Newmark and Weiberg Consultant's work on this very important process,” said ACC Board of Directors Chair and Duke University President Vincent E. Price.

Charlotte and Orlando both have ties to Disney-owned cable sports channel ESPN, which owns and operates ACC Network. 

ESPN's Wide World of Sports Complex is located in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, and there's an ESPN studio in Ballantyne, which is right outside of Charlotte. 

North Carolina District 57 Representative Ashton Clemmons says Greensboro should still be the top choice.

"In Greensboro, the ACC is a highlight of our community and our community is able to embrace the ACC in a way that larger cities just can’t do," Clemmons said. "We are easy to travel to, our airport is the easiest airport in and out in the southeast. We have easy transportation systems, you can get around Guilford County (in) 20 minutes almost anywhere. So I think being here continues to be the best bet for the ACC."

Rep. Clemmons says she's surprised that the ACC would consider any location outside of North Carolina. 

"I grew up here and I taught school here and live here now and there’s no other state that has the claim to the ACC like we do here in North Carolina," said Clemmons. "I mean that’s played out even just this year with how well the ACC did in the tournament."

Rep. Clemmons also noted that, if the ACC moves out of Greensboro, it would be a loss for the region, and for the ACC that might experience higher costs in a larger city. 

News 2 has reached out to Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan about the potential relocation. Stay with us on-air and online for updates. 

RELATED: ACC exploring possible move from Greensboro

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