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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMore than 20 cities-including Indianapolis-are bidding for the USA Basketball headquarters and national training facilities, which have been located in Colorado Springs since 1979.
The official announcement came today from officials of USA Basketball, the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the U.S.
Bids are due Dec. 20, with a decision set to be announced during the summer of 2008. Any relocation likely would take place shortly after the 2008 Summer Olympics, sources said.
The relocation process reflects the desire of USA Basketball to consolidate its executive and training operations into a single, state-of-the-art location, said USA Basketball President Val Ackerman.
Currently, USA Basketball’s executive offices are headquartered in Colorado Springs, and it trains its teams at the United States Olympic Committee’s training center, also in Colorado Springs, and various other venues around the United States.
“Over the years we have been approached by various cities interested in serving as the new headquarters of USA Basketball, Ackerman said. “The [request for proposal] process will help us determine whether we can forge a long-term partnership that will be in the best interests of USA Basketball, the host city and the sport itself.
“We are very pleased with the strong interest we have received thus far from cities across the country, and we appreciate their recognition and support of our mission to enhance the sport of basketball locally, in the United States and around the world.”
Colorado Springs officials said they will try to retain the headquarters.
Indiana Sports Corp. officials told IBJ last week that city officials are interested in bidding for USA Basketball headquarters.
City officials said having the locally-based NCAA and National Federation of State High School Associations-both key USA Basketball members-and the Indiana Pacers makes Indianapolis an ideal home for the headquarters.
Los Angeles-based Wasserman Media Group has been retained to assist USA Basketball evaluate the requests for proposals.
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