ACC pulls championship game from Charlotte in response to HB2 bill

The ACC announced Wednesday that it will relocate all neutral-site championships scheduled in North Carolina during the 2016-17 season, including the football conference championship in Charlotte.

The decision comes in response to the state's HB2 bill - legislation that prohibits individuals from using a washroom that does not correspond to the gender of their birth, no matter what they currently identify as.

"The ACC Council of Presidents made it clear that the core values of this league are of the utmost importance, and the opposition to any form of discrimination is paramount," Commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. "Today's decision is one of principle, and while this decision is the right one, we recognize there will be individuals and communities that are supportive of our values as well as our championship sites that will be negatively affected."

The move comes just days after the NCAA announced it was removing first- and second-round men's basketball tournament games from the state. Earlier this year, the NBA pulled the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte, moving the festivities to New Orleans.

The latest move is significant, considering the ACC's head office is located in Greensboro, N.C.