The University of Hawaii said it plans to submit bids to host NCAA championships in women’s and men’s volleyball as well as water polo between 2022 and 2026.
The last UH-hosted NCAA championship event was in 2004, when the men’s volleyball final four was played at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Sites are selected by NCAA committees on the basis of several factors, including bid response, marketing plan and hotel agreements.
Athletic director David Matlin said UH had not yet determined how much it would bid for the various championships. “We are currently reviewing (specifications) that just came out,” Matlin said in an email.
All bids are due by Feb. 3, 2020. The sites will be awarded in “late Oct. 2020,” the NCAA said in a statement.
Matlin said UH planned to tender bids for men’s volleyball for 2023-26, women’s water polo 2023-26 and women’s volleyball 2022-25.
The three-day Big West Men’s Volleyball Championship drew more than 20,000 to the Stan Sheriff Center in April, drawing praise from conference officials who urged UH to seek a national tournament.
“It (the tournament) certainly met — and exceeded — our expectations from a financial perspective,” said Rob Halvaks, Big West Conference chief financial officer.
The Big West said it netted $99,000, marking the first time the event has made money. All six participating teams got $16,500 shares.
UH hosted men’s volleyball final fours in 1991 at Blaisdell Center and 1998 and 2004 at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Even without UH in the 1998 tournament, there were 9,079 tickets distributed for the semifinals and 9,822 for the championship match. But the 2004 championships attracted only 4,105 to see Brigham Young beat Long Beach State in the title match.
UH hosted final fours for women’s volleyball in 1989 at Blaisdell and 1999 at the Sheriff Center. The school has yet to host a water polo final four. The NCAA began sponsoring a championship in water polo in 2001 and 14 of the 19 events have been held in California.