The Belk Bowl is the last major college sporting event remaining in North Carolina now that the NCAA and ACC have pulled all championship events from the state for the 2016-17 school year due to North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2.
MORE: North Carolina sports fans pay the price for HB2
Belk Bowl officials declined comment on the news, but the Charlotte Sports Foundation, which runs the Charlotte-hosted bowl game and the ACC Championship Game, released a statement Wedneday in regards to the news:
The Charlotte Sports Foundation respects but is disappointed in the decision to move the ACC Football Championship away from the City of Charlotte. We are proud to have helped put on this event over the past six years. We recognize the economic impact moving the game and its events have on the Charlotte area. We will continue to work to bring high impact sporting events to Charlotte in the future, including the possible return of the ACC Football Championship Game.
Will Webb, Executive Director
There's been no news on the status of the Belk Bowl, but the NCAA could decertify the bowl game. ESPN's Brett McMurphy reported that option is unlikely.
It’s doubtful NCAA decertifies Belk Bowl & won’t allow it played in NC because "doesn’t want to make Power 5 leagues mad” source told @ESPN
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) September 13, 2016
Earlier in 2016, the NBA removed the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte.
