HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE OF SPRINGFIELD!
"Springfield has been my first love ever since I could remember. I know for a fact it's not just my opinion too. Playing in high school and tournaments in Springfield growing up, I had a lot of relationships with players who were not from Springfield and they loved everything about it. The atmosphere, the hospitality and the appreciation it hold for its people. Still to this day when I walk around this wonderful City, I will constantly get shoutouts from the public. The fact they know who I am and still appreciate what I've accomplished reminds me that I could not have accomplished what I did without this City's support."
MOLLY BROWN
Former NCAA II Women's Basketball star from Springfield, MA
Jerry Smith
Springfield, MA resident
Nolan McCauley
Former Division II Men's Basketball star from Springfield, MA
Rodger W. Crandall
President and CEO of Mass Mutual
Jamal McDaniels
Springfield, MA resident
Jerry Colangelo
Chairman of The Basketball Hall of Fame
"The issues in this City are well known but that doesn't mean that we have to give up. This event will enhance our community's develoment and being a business man myself our financial difficulties will most definitely see an increase. The opportunity for jobs and growth in revenue will be open. Let us hold this tournament and let us move in the right direction as a team. Together, this great City of Springfield and the NCAA can make an astronomical change to rememeber."
"Springfield, MA is where the game of basketball was invented. If the NCAA wants to show the true colors of their brand which from my understanding is academic excellence as well as athletic performances then why not Springfield? Again, the game of basketball was invented in this City and it was invented at a university. To me, I don't see a scenario where the Host City wouldn't Springfield."
"Being from Springfield and having gone through the Division II experience, I firmly believe that Springfield being the Host City for the Division II Championships makes perfect sense. It may not appear so but this City is a strong community who loves their people. And from my experience playing in a bunch of different arenas I came to the realization that this what the NCAA is all about, the community. If so, I have not met a more appreciative community than Springfield when something big happens. Despite playing my college career far from home I constantly received fan mail from people in Springfield that I didn't even know! Give us a chance NCAA, we are much stronger than we appear."
"The Hall of Fame is in this City because the sport of basketball was created here. Whenever an opportunity to for a national event having to do with basketball is out there, Springfield should be the only City to even consider to have host the event. Part of the NCAAs vision is to keep tradition going which is why the main blueprint in how the sport is played is still based on the original 13 rules by Dr. Naismith. In order to keep the tradition of the sport going why not Springfield? I have been in touch with both Jason Brown and Rodger Crandall and will contribute money and sponsorhip to the event if granted approval."
"People usually associate professional sports in Springfield with the Falcons and Armor. We want to prove to our beloved City of sports fans and the NCAA that we can be much more. If approved I have already granted Brown Sports Enterprise to hold the event at our arena in downtown Springfield. The NCAA and Division II sports to be specific revolve around the "life of balance." The incorporation of student-athletes is a fast growing commodity. Today in Division I sports you often see many basketball players that are "one and dones." The entire state of Massachusetts is derived of many Division II and III schools so we already have an instilled mindset of student-athletes. I am confident that there is no other Host City that can portray the NCAAs brand of academic excellence better than Springfield."