Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. KiKi Baker Barnes.

City Council member Jim Taliaferro.

Event will have a great economic impact for city

On Jan. 26, the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission held a news conference to announce a threeyear agreement with the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC).

Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Commissioner Dr. KiKi Baker Barnes announced the 2023 GCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championship would be held in Shreveport and hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. This year’s competition takes place at Lee Hedges Stadium on April 14 and 15.

“I want to thank Sara Nelms and the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission for hosting our championship,” said Commissioner Baker Barnes. “Our conference continues pushing for greater partnerships and having our championship in Shreveport is another path to creating high-quality experiences for our students, coaches, and staff.”

According to City Council member Jim Taliaferro, the agreement will represent a great economic impact for Shreveport.

“This is our opportunity to roll out not only the hospitality of our city but to show off our great community of Broadmoor. Youree Drive is one of the highest economic corridors in the city, and we plan on doing our best to show off our unique identity.” Taliaferro said the city could realize an economic impact estimated at $1 million.

The GCAC is celebrating its 40th year as a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) member. The GCAC membership includes Dillard University (LA), Fisk University (TN), Oakwood University (AL), Philander Smith College (AR), Rust College (MS), Southern University at New Orleans (LA), Tougaloo College (MS) and Wiley College (TX). The University of the Virgin Islands joins the conference on July 1, 2023, becoming the ninth member of the GCAC.

Additional details about the 2023 GCAC Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship will be available in the coming weeks at gcaconf.com.