KANSAS CITY, KS (KELO.com and KWSN) -- Missouri's loss could be Sioux Falls' gain when it comes to the 2018 NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Championships.
The Association announced on Friday they would move the event out of its longtime home in Branson, Missouri due to differing opinions on the right of Student-Athletes to protest during the National Anthem. College of the Ozarks wanted the NAIA to mandate that all students stand during the playing of the Anthem, however the Association disagreed. When a compromise couldn't be made, the two sides decided relocation of the event was the best course of action.
“The NAIA respects the rights of all our members to determine the best course of action for their teams in regards to the national anthem,” said NAIA President Jim Carr. “However, our first priority is providing student-athletes the best event possible and neither the NAIA nor the College of the Ozarks want this issue to disrupt the competition or diminish the student-athlete experience.”
The NAIA believes the playing of the anthem provides student-athletes and fans an important and time-honored tradition to honor our country and veterans. The association encourages everyone in attendance to stand when the anthem is played.
The NAIA also understands that the freedom of speech -- and the right to peaceful protest -- are indisputable rights in the United States. Because the NAIA is made up of 250 diverse schools, the association believes it is in the best interest of the institutions to let them individually decide what actions are acceptable for their coaches and student-athletes.
KELO.com news and KWSN Sports was able to confirm that the Sioux Falls Sports Authority is interested in working with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to bring the event to town next March. "It's one of those opportunities that we will definitely take a look at, see if it fits at one of the facilities here in town," said Sports Authority Executive Director Bryan Miller. He admits that will be tough with many of those facilities already booked for other events including the Summit League and NSIC basketball championships, an NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey regional, the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight, and staples like the Skyforce and Stampede sprinkled in as well.
The NAIA Division II Men's Basketball championships involve bringing 32 teams in to town to play 31 games over seven days. Traditionally, all of those games have been played at one location, with as many as eight games played in a single day beginning at 8:30AM, and the last game of the day starting as late as 10PM. So for whoever wins the bid, it will be a tall order on short notice.
"It's a unique event, it would fit well in Sioux Falls. We just need to make sure that it fits well with the Sports Authority at this time." Miller adds that partnering with another community to split up some of those 31 games could be a possibility, and either way his group would need to work with one or all of the state's four NAIA institutions to host the event. (Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, Mount Marty College in Yankton, Presentation College in Aberdeen, and Dakota State University in Madison)
If not now, Miller says the event is something that the Sports Authority has had eyes on for the future. Branson's agreement for the event with the NAIA is set to expire in 2021, and he says he has been preparing a bid package to bring the event to Sioux Falls at that time. It's unclear how Friday's mutual parting of ways will impact the 2019 and 2020 tournaments.
(Information from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics was used in this report)