Tickets for NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships on Sale Feb. 2

"Greensboro, N.C. (Jan. 28, 2015)  North Carolina State University and the Greensboro Aquatic Center are proud to host the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21.

Join us this spring as the best collegiate swimmers and divers from across the nation come to Greensboro for their chance to become a champion.

All-Session tickets for the 2015 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Greensboro Aquatic Center will go on sale Monday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 and the Greensboro Coliseum box office.

All session tickets books are $70 for adults and $55 for children/seniors (age 12 and under/ age 60 and above). Single-session tickets, if available, are scheduled to go on sale March 9.

There are only a limited amount of tickets for this event, so get yours today before it's too late! Visit NCAA.com and greensboroaquaticcenter.com for more information and updates."

- A Press Release

Water polo tournament coming to Aquatic Center

South Atlantic Coast Water Polo League Championship Tournament

Second Annual Championship Tournament to be hosted at the Greensboro Aquatic Center

Greensboro -  With previous day long inter-division tournaments in cities such as Washington D.C., Richmond, Hickory and Charlotte the seedings are set for the 2nd Annual South Atlantic Coast Water Polo Championship including teams from Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, Asheville, Atlanta, Richmond, Arlington, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Hampton Roads.  The Atlanta Dynamo (6-0) and Washington Wetskins (6-0) each lead their respective Divisions into the Championship.  The Central Division includes the Atlanta Dynamo, the Charlotte Sharks, the Greensboro Water Polo Club, Asheville Water Polo Club and the Triangle Water Polo Club.  The North Division includes not only the Washington Wetskins but also the Richmond Water Polo Club, Arlington, Baltimore and the Hampton Roads Water Polo Clubs.

South Atlantic Coast Water Polo League Championship:  The Triangle and Greensboro Water Polo Clubs are hosting the 2nd Annual Water Polo Championship including teams from the southeastern states, stretching from Georgia in the south up to and including Maryland in the north. The South Atlantic Coast Water Polo League (www.sacwaterpolo.com) was formed in 2013 by nine teams with the vision of growing the sport of water polo in the Southeastern United States. The championship tournament will take place at the Greensboro Aquatic Center on June 14th-15th and is free and open to the public.  Approximately 180 athletes will participate in the events surrounding the Championship Tournament, which include at least 14 games played from 8am - 8pm on Saturday, June 14th. On Sunday, June 15th, there will be approximately 6 games starting at 8 am and ending by 1 pm.

South Atlantic Coast Water Polo League:  Formed officially in March of 2013 and includes 8 founding teams with the vision of expanding water polo in the southeast. This first year, all teams are open to ages 18+ and are co-ed.  In future years, the League's vision includes incorporating individual competitions throughout the year for Men, Women, High School Teens, and Age-Group Youth.

Triangle Water Polo Club:  Formed in 2007, and officially incorporated in 2013 as a non-profit club, practices in pools both in Cary and Raleigh, NC. Several of the Triangle Water Polo Club members coach the men’s and women’s collegiate club teams in the triangle area. In addition, TWPC offers youth clinics throughout the year and a Youth League during the summer months.

Greensboro Water Polo Club:  Was originally formed and practiced in Winston-Salem, but now practices at the Greensboro Aquatic Center.  Youth clinics have been a part of the program in the past and more are currently being planned.

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via press release

An early warning about aquatic center cost

Hat tip to David Hoggard on this one:

The much maligned Mitchell Johnson appears to have been prophetic on the matter of the ballooning cost of the aquatic center, on which his adversary Mike Barber and other departing members of the Greensboro City Council will vote on Dec. 1 as a final parting gesture before the new council is sworn in.

Time was when a city manager was valued for being unafraid to give her honest professional opinion. It will be interesting to see whether the new council politicizes city government as much as the current one has and whether new manager Rashad Young is willing to stand up to his nine bosses when he feels they're making the wrong decision.

I'll let the documents speak for themselves.

Mitchell Johnson memorandum, June 27, 2008:

As city council considers the option of including a pool in the bonds there are a few important issues to consider. The first is that the CIP item at $10,250,000 is not a regional competition venue type facility and would not be appropriate for this type of use. This item is really an enclosed community swim facility similar to our Lindley Park pool but enclosed.

Since the council briefing on the 24th staff has determined that a competition venue appropriate for hosting regional swim events would be significantly more expensive to build; potentially in the range of $18 to $20 million based on the facility recently completed in Cary, NC. I am concerned that placing the proposed pool, as listed in the CIP, in the bond package would create expectations which we would fail to meet with that level of funding. As a result I would recommend not considering this option unless council is very clear that we would not be providing a competitive venue as required to host state or regional level events. I also do not believe that private support could handlee the $8,000,000 to $10,000,000 shortfall.

And now this:

Updated special meeting notice: Members of the Greensboro City Council have set a special council meeting at 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2009, in the council chambers of the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 West Washington Street, Greensbooro, NC for the purpose of conducting a public hearing concerning the financing of certain improvements to the Greensboro War Memorial Coliseum Complex pursuant to an installment purchase agreement; to consider adoption of a resolution approving bid in the amount of $18,323,961; and authorizing Contract No. 2009-080 with Shellco, Inc. for the construction of the Greensboro Aquatic Center and ACC Hall of Champions entrance and to consider adoption of an ordinance amending in the amount of $6,875,000 parks and recreational facilities bond fund -- Aquatic Center (Seeries 2010) Capital Project Budget.

Request to fast-track contract award before Greensboro council

The Greensboro City Council will be asked to award a $1.3 million contract to Teague, Freyaldenhoven and Freyaldenhoven Architects and Planners LLP tomorrow to design a new aquatic center at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

The attachment for this particular item cites NCGS 143-64.32(b) as authority for allowing the city council to bypass the competitive bidding process for the job. In this case, the reason given is "to take advantage of current market conditions in constructing this facility."

The Teague firm, which is based in Greensboro, would head up a "team of architects and engineers," including two other companies that are also local. According to the agenda item, "These firms were selected because of their expertise and prior knowledge of the project site and conditions."

Maybe so, but I wonder if members of the council running for reelection this year, including Mayor Yvonne Johnson, will end up regretting fast-tracking the project if employees of Teague, Rosser International, Davis-Martin-Powell & Associates and Sutton-Kennerly & Associates end up making significant contributions to their campaigns?

UPDATE, June 17, 10:58 a.m.: For those following this, council approved the contract unanimously last night. I'll be closely scrutinizing campaign finance reports in the late summer and fall. And if there are cost overruns, well that would take it to another level.