The 2008 and 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference football championship games will be in Tampa Bay and the 2010 and 2011 games will be in Charlotte, ACC Commissioner John Swofford said today.

The decision was reached unanimously this morning in a conference call of the league's athletics directors and faculty athletics representatives, which ended a seven-month bid and selection process, a conference statement said.

A citywide convention in Charlotte in 2008, which will limit access to key hotels and event areas, was a big reason for giving Tampa Bay the event next year, the statement said. The awarding of the game for four years allowed the conference to meet each city's request to host the event for a consecutive two-year period.

"We are extremely excited about the future of the ACC Football Championship game at these sites," Swofford said. "Both Tampa Bay and Charlotte are tremendous destinations in terms of their football venue, community support and partnership with the Atlantic Coast Conference."

The ACC title games on Dec. 6, 2008, and Dec. 5, 2009, will be at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. The games on Dec. 4, 2010, and Dec. 3, 2011, will be at Bank of America Stadium, home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers and the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

The first three ACC title games have been in Jacksonville, Fla.

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