When the America East Women's Basketball Championship tips-off in 2017 it will take place at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.A press conference is planned for Thursday in Portland to make the move official. It will be the first time the tournament will be played in Maine in nearly 20 years when it took place at Alfond Arena on the UMaine campus. It will also be the first time the tourney will take place at a neutral site.

Shamrock Sports and Entertainment and the Maine Sports Commission will work in conjunction to host the event.

In  a press release by the conference commissioner Amy Huchthausen said “Maine has some of the most passionate women’s basketball fans in the country and we are looking forward to taking our championship to Portland in both 2017 and 2018. “Shamrock, the Maine Sports Commission and the Cross Insurance Arena will no doubt help us put on a first-class event and showcase our top-flight women’s basketball teams and student-athletes in a destination city with an incredibly supportive community.”

This years tournament will be played at the University of Binghamton before moving to Maine for the next two years.

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