Local Entities Win Bids to Host Four COA Championships

Released: April 22 2002
Release #: 0210
Contact: David Eadie,
COA Sports Information Director

Sacramento, CA . . . Four uniquely different California cities recently won bids to host upcoming COA championships in Fall 2002 and Winter 2003. The cities of Los Alamitos, San Diego, Stockton and Bakersfield won the rights to host the COA events based on bids submitted recently to the COA, which regularly cultivates and solicits many of the state’s sports and business attraction agencies.

"The interest by the various sports commissions is a central focus of all of these agreements," said Associate Commissioner Stu Van Horn. "They have stepped up their interest in community college athletics, invested in us and developed mutually-beneficial partnerships with the COA. We are grateful for their interest in hosting our outstanding events."

San Diego captured the 2003-2005 men’s and women’s basketball championships, to be held at University of San Diego’s Jenny Craig Pavilion each March. The venue will be an ideal host to the tournament, one of the COA’s most coveted assets. San Diego’s bid was bolstered by a commitment from the Magali Foundation, which pledged to cover the anticipated expenses associated with facility costs at USD.

Los Alamitos and the U.S. Water Polo National Training Center at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in the City of Los Alamitos will serve as host to the COA women’s and men’s water polo championships. The facility, located in the western portion of Orange County, near Los Angeles, features a world class 50 meter by 25 yard pool.

Further north, Bakersfield topped several other cities with its winning bid for the 2002 COA football championship. The Bakersfield sports commission, combined with the support of Blue Diamond Growers, will host the title game, which is expected to attract thousands of community college football fans from the region.

In addition, the Stockton Sports Commission – one of the COA’s most consistent sponsors – will again host the women’s volleyball championships in early December at San Joaquin Delta College. The sports commission recently completed a three-year run as host of the men’s and women’s basketball championships and hosted the COA women’s volleyball championships in 2000.

The winning regions, championship dates and events are as follows: