Charlotte leaders fighting to keep CIAA in town

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina  (WBTV) --  Charlotte leaders are committed to not losing the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Basketball tournament. It has been in Charlotte for several years and has pumped millions of dollars into the economy, but recent complaints from CIAA leaders could make it difficult to keep the tourney in Charlotte.

The tournament is scheduled to stay in Charlotte until 2014. It's up for grabs after that. Charlotte has to rebid for the CIAA this summer to keep it in Charlotte until 2018.

Councilman James Mitchell has requested the city's Economic Development Committee to tackle those complaints and find solutions. One complaint is with the hotels. Leaders think the prices are too high and they think hotels are taking advantage of the fans. Here is what CIAA leaders would like to see happen.

"One solution," Mitchell said. "That we have had some discussion is to allow the CIAA to control the hotels - get the CRVA out of that business and turn it over to the 10 CIAA schools and let them manage their own hotels."

Another concern for new CIAA commissioner Jacqie Carpenter is ...

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