COGIC Officially Leaves Memphis

The Church of God and Christ has officially left the Bluff City.

The Memphis Convention and Tourism Bureau received an official letter of cancellation 2010, 11 and 12 COGIC Conventions.

Church leaders say they decided to move their 2010 convention to St. Louis because the city provided better incentives and rising hotel prices in Memphis.

For over the last 100 years, Memphis has been the epicenter of COGIC's annual conventions bringing in millions of dollars in tourism to the city.

"It's going to be very difficult...of loosing them," says Kevin Kane.

Kane says Memphis will have an opportunity to bid on the 2011 and 2012 conventions.

He also says the tourism bureau is working with several groups to fill the convention space.