The organization is seeking recognition as a Power 6 conference.
News Provided By Ben Swanger, D Magazine
May 21, 2020
The American Athletic Conference is moving its home base from Providence, Rhode Island, to Irving. The organization has leased 18,000 square feet on the third floor of the Summit at Las Colinas and will relocate its 30 employees to Texas this summer.
The 12-team conference, which is seeking recognition as a Power 6 conference, has been based in Providence since 1979. It’s moving to Las Colinas to reside closer to many of its member institutions.
Along with Southern Methodist University, the conference consists of the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Connecticut, East Carolina University, the University of Houston, the University of Memphis, the U.S. Naval Academy (football only), the University of South Florida, Temple University, Tulane University, and the University of Tulsa. Additionally, Wichita State University is a member in basketball and Olympic sports.
“We chose The Summit because it is an extremely attractive and well-managed state-of-the-art building that will offer unparalleled amenities for our office staff and visiting membership in the heart of the Dallas metro-area business community,” said Mike Aresco, commissioner of The American. “We will enjoy the central location, access to the outstanding nearby airports, and to the desirable residential areas, restaurants, and many cultural attractions in the region.”
JLL’s Conor McCarthy and Jeremy McGown represented the American in the transaction, and James Esquivel and Ahnie Sheehy, also with JLL, handled the negotiations on behalf of the landlord, Gemini Rosemont.
“We have nine organizations that have based their headquarters at The Summit at Las Colinas, including the American, and we are honored to have them join our high-profile,” said Helen Rivero, chief operating officer for Gemini Rosemont. “It is the ideal location for an athletic conference of this stature.”
The Dallas region is emerging as an epicenter of college sports. Along with the American, it’s also home to College Football Playoff, the Big 12, and the National Football Foundation.
