Until now.

North Carolina and N.C. State on Sunday were chosen to be two of the 16 host sites, signaling the growth and depth of college baseball in the Triangle. This will mark the third straight year that Carolina, which has advanced to the College World Series the past two seasons, will host an NCAA baseball regional. It is the first time State has hosted since 2003 (those games were played in Wilson because the Wolfpack's stadium was being renovated).

The 64-team tournament field, which also should include East Carolina, will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN today. Games in the double-elimination format begin Friday.

"Baseball in the Triangle has been so good for so many years, but I think this shows the attention and recognition is finally catching up with the product,'' N.C. State coach Elliott Avent said.

Added UNC coach Mike Fox: "The fact that four of the 16 sites are from the ACC speaks well of our league. I'm glad the committee didn't look at proximity, because that would be unfair. You have to reward the teams that have done the work."

Because of renovations to Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, UNC has been practicing and playing its games at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, about 17 miles from State's Doak Field. There was some conjecture that the NCAA might not choose two sites in such close proximity -- even though Houston and nearby Rice have hosted regionals at the same time in the past.

"I'm sure they did look it it,'' Avent said. "So to put two sites so close together shows how deserving both teams are."

Larry Templeton, chairman of the NCAA Baseball Committee and athletics director at Mississippi State, said last week that each regional bid would be decided on its own merit regardless of location even though, "at the same time, we want to put regionals geographically all over the country."

He added: "At the end of the day, the top seeds and the host sites are going to go to those who have earned it on the field."

The NCAA usually awards sites to the top teams in the country, as long as they have put in bids and their facilities are up to par. Like the NCAA basketball tournament, the committee takes into account the last 10 or so games of the season when weighing bids and sites, he said. UNC and N.C. State each finished 1-2 in the ACC Tournament, but the Tar Heels entered it ranked No. 1 in the country in the Baseball America poll with the top-rated RPI. State was No. 20 in the poll, with the 10th-best RPI.

Roughly 40 teams put in bids to host, and as part of the deal, the NCAA takes at least 75 percent of the estimated net gate receipts (at a guaranteed minimum of $50,000). UNC's proposal was slightly more complicated because of its temporary home away from home. With no dedicated locker room for officials, for instance, the school will rent a Winnebago to give the umpires a place to shower and take a breather between games.

"There are some challenges in Cary that we did not have here in Chapel Hill at the Bosh because it's not a collegiate facility,'' UNC senior associate athletics director Beth Miller said last week. "There's no area there specifically for umpires. There are some hospitality things we like to do, so we'll need to put tents up. We'll have to incur some extra expenses ... but it will be worth it, to give the players a chance to play in front of a home crowd."

At UNC, all-session tickets range from $35 to $60; single-game sessions range from $7 to $12. More information can be found at www.tarheelblue.com.

At State, tournament books will cost from $30 to $60, and single sessions $10 to $15. More information can be found at www.gopack.com.

The other 14 regional sites include ACC foes Miami and Florida State. Regional winners will advance to the best-of-three Super Regional Round June 6-9. Super Regional sites will be announced early next week.

"This is a major step for our program,'' said Avent, who fielded multiple calls Sunday night from thrilled Wolfpack players. "It means so much to so many people."

Fox said he expects both stadiums will be full and doesn't think the sites will have to compete for fans even though both stadiums are in the same county.

"The people in red will go to Raleigh, and the people in blue will go to Cary,'' he said. "College baseball has certainly grown in popularity, and it continues to do so. I think there have been really great players and great teams in both places, at both schools, so I think people are paying more attention -- and I certainly hope they will next weekend."