The decision whether to keep the Mountain East Conference basketball tournament in Charleston could be determined and announced next month, according to league commissioner Reid Amos.
In the league's last tournament visit to the Capital City, complaints were made about support, effort and contractual promises that were not kept.
"I think there's a lot of room for continued growth," Amos said at the time.
The commissioner also said at the time the league and Charleston were finishing the second year of a three-year agreement, but a clause in the contract could allow for an early exit.
If ticket revenue from the event at the Civic Center didn't reach $60,000, Amos said, the MEC has the option to leave. The number only reached $52,511.
Amos said arrangements were made "for meetings with Charleston city officials and stakeholders in April in an effort to address concerns and identify strategies to make what is already a high quality event a great event."
On Wednesday, Amos released the following update via email to the Gazette-Mail:
"The Mountain East Conference recently held meetings with representatives from the City of Charleston, its Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Charleston Civic Center to discuss the 2016 event and the MEC's goals for the future of the MEC Basketball Tournament. Our discussions with Charleston officials are ongoing and I look forward to an additional round of meetings next month."
During a phone conversation, Amos said a decision was forthcoming in May.
Charleston Deputy Mayor Rod Blackstone said he and CVB Vice President Tim Brady met with Amos and that the Civic Center's John Robertson met separately with the commissioner.
"The discussions were very encouraging," Blackstone said. "We had a very candid discussion about what's happened in the past and what can happen in the future."
Blackstone said the Charleston group is "working on a strategy to make the MEC tournament a vibrant tournament in Charleston for a long time to come."
MEC officials confirmed two other cities with suitable venues have reached out to the league, but would not identify the cities because of a policy to withold names until a formal bid is placed. One of the cities, though, is believed to be Wheeling.
The only other MEC tournaments currently staged in Charleston are the women's and men's tennis events. The latter will be held April 22-24, next Friday through Sunday.