By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on July 24, 2013

The Mountain East Conference office will be located in Bridgeport at the Charles Pointe Development, Commissioner Reid Amos and Bridgeport city officials announced today.

The conference office will be located at 600 Marketplace Avenue in Bridgeport, less than half a mile off of Exit 124 on Interstate 79. Located in north central West Virginia, Bridgeport offers a centralized location for the 12 institutions that cover West Virginia, and stretches into central and northern Ohio as well as southwestern Virginia.

“"We are very happy to call Bridgeport our home,” Amos said. “In addition to being a geographic center for our 12 institutions, Bridgeport is a vibrant community that makes it an ideal location for the home of the MEC.

“As this process unfolded, it became clear that the city of Bridgeport was intent on making every effort to bring the MEC offices here,” Amos continued. “On behalf of the MEC, I want to extend my appreciation to the city, the CVB, the Bridgeport Conference Center, Charles Pointe and Genesis Partners for all of their efforts that have made this a reality.”

The MEC began operations July 1. It consists of many schools that made up the now defunct West Virginia Conference. The former WVIAC schools include the University of Charleston, Concord, Fairmont State, Glenville State, Shepherd, West Liberty, West Virginia State, West Virginia Wesleyan, and Wheeling Jesuit. Notre Dame (Ohio), Urbana (Ohio) and Virginia-Wise are schools outside of West Virginia that are part of the new conference. Only Wheeling Jesuit is without a football program.

“We are thrilled that Bridgeport will be the home for league’s corporate office,” said Michelle Duez, Executive Director of the Greater Bridgeport Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We believe that the amenities provided by the city of Bridgeport are top-notch, and that the strategic location of the city, being along I-79 and Rt. 50 corridor, makes it very accessible to member schools. We look forward to a wonderful working relationship with the MEC and the member schools.”

The MEC will begin its inaugural season as the NCAA’s 25th Division II conference in September. The all-sports league will sponsor championship competition in 16 men’s and women’s sports during the 2013-14 academic year.

More on this announcement following a 3 p.m. news conference today in Bridgeport.