66th Annual CIAA Men’s & Women’s Basketball Tournament
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Posted By: How May I Help You NC on February 11, 2011 New Automotive Sponsor, Corporate Partners Reveal 2011 Tournament Activations and Celebrity Appearances and Lincoln University (PA) and Winston-Salem State University Return The 66th annual Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament will take place February 28 through March 5 in Charlotte, N.C. The week-long Tournament returns for its sixth year in the Queen City with great basketball and countless events and activities for its fans and Charlotte residents. Basketball action begins with the Food Lion Women’s Tournament tipping off Monday, February 28 at 1:00 p.m. The Men’s Tournament begins play Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Games continue on Thursday and Friday beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Tournament concludes on Saturday with the Women’s Tournament final at 5:00 p.m. and the Men’s Tournament final at 8:00 p.m. televised on ESPN-U. CIAA alumni may purchase tickets from their respective schools; fans can purchase tickets by visiting www.ciaatournament.org and clicking the ‘Buy Tickets’ tab or at the Time Warner Cable Arena box office. “We look forward to returning to Charlotte for our sixth consecutive CIAA Tournament,” says Leon Kerry, CIAA Commissioner. “We’ve welcomed back Lincoln and Winston-Salem State University to the CIAA, signed Toyota as our new automotive partner and continued living up to our reputation of providing our fans with an action-packed week of great basketball and fun-filled activities and events. Our fan’s loyalty is unquestionable. Their constant support of the Conference and our Tournament shows their passion for the CIAA, which is important as we prepare for the 100th anniversary of the CIAA in 2012.” Lincoln’s and Winston-Salem State University’s membership of the Division II Conference was effective July 2010. The Conference and both universities share a rich history and were welcomed back with open arms and great anticipation. “The partnership with CIAA affords Toyota the opportunity to support African American academia, and continue to facilitate dialogue with diverse communities on sustainable living,” said Jim Colon, vice president of Toyota product communications for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A, Inc. “Through Toyota’s sponsorship of CIAA, the Toyota Green Initiative was launched, an environmental stewardship platform designed to educate HBCU students and alumni on the benefits of going green.” At the Toyota Fan Experience, the interactive Toyota Green Initiative booth will have 4,000 square feet devoted to sustainability. The booth will house a DJ and Hybrid technology centered around a 18” foot tree made of sustainable materials powered by a solar generator. TV-One returns as a television partner for the CIAA, presenting the men’s quarter-finals and the semi-final rounds of the Tournament on Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4. Charlotte organizers are excited to renew their contract with the CIAA to host the annual Tournament through 2014. According to the Charlotte Regional Visitor’s Authority (CRVA) research, the Tournament accounted for direct spending of over $24 million and a total economic impact of over $37 million dollars over the one-week period in 2010. “Yes, the CIAA has brought us tens of millions of dollars into the area, benefitting our businesses and adding to the bottom line of hospitality and tourism efforts. But we are thankful for the vast opportunities that have come our way to welcome new visitors to our region and to secure long-lasting friendships. This is a team effort every year,” said Tim Newman, CEO of the CRVA. “The CIAA celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2012. . .this is a milestone that we are proud to be a part of and we appreciate their ongoing confidence in us to give them the best tournament experience their patrons can ask for. . .and we will again provide!” The CIAA Tournament provides a unique experience one week out of the year that draws fans from across the country and creates an ultimate reunion atmosphere, which separates the CIAA from any other event of its kind. The Conference works year-round to develop numerous activities and events for CIAA fans, many of which are free to the public and designed to give attendees a true ‘CIAA Experience’. Tournament attendees can enjoy the Toyota Fan Experience at the Charlotte Convention Center and McDonald’s Super Saturday at the Time Warner Cable Arena FREE of charge. The Toyota Fan Experience will feature free concerts by national recording artists Eric Benet, Donell Jones, Tank and Jagged Edge, appearances by Tom Joyner, Actor Lance Gross, and Sister 2 Sister Magazine’s Jamie Foster Brown, the Food Lion Cooking Stage featuring B. Smith and the Yolanda Adams Morning Show brought to you by Lowe’s. The McDonald’s Super Saturday will showcase event favorites such as the Cheerleading Exhibition, Battle of the Bands – High School edition and the Food Lion Miss CIAA Pageant. This year’s McDonald’s Super Saturday will feature a performance by national recording artists New Boyz and actor/choreographer Darrin Henson. Other official CIAA events that require purchasing a ticket includes the McDonald’s Step Show Throwdown at the Charlotte Convention Center, Sister 2 Sister magazine presents The Show hosted by Doug E. Fresh featuring DJ’s Kid Capri and Biz Markie and the CIAA Post-Tournament After Party featuring Jeffrey Osborne, which will both take place in the new Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center, and XXL/SLAM magazine’s official CIAA party at Vida in the Charlotte EpiCentre. For more information about how to purchase tickets and a complete list of official CIAA events, fans can visit www.ciaatournament.org and click on the ‘Schedule of Events’ tab. ABOUT THE CIAA The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) was founded in 1912 and is based in Hampton, Virginia. The CIAA is America’s oldest historically black college and university conference and is made up of 13 colleges and universities situated along the Eastern Seaboard. For more information about the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visit www.ciaatournament.org. For more information about the CIAA Conference, visit www.theciaa.com. 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How May I Help You NC
Management, See Moss Interactive Bellarmine University class of 2021 Member Since January 2011 |
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