Leaders Announce Plans for first CIAA Tournament in Charlotte

Leaders Announce Plans for first CIAA Tournament in Charlotte

August 10, 2005

Charlotte, NC. . Led by Mayor Patrick McCrory, area leaders involved in the pursuit of the 2006 – 2008 CIAA Basketball Tournament announced plans today for the start of the 61st Annual CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament in Charlotte’s New Charlotte Arena for February 27 – March 4, 2006, marking the first time that the CIAA basketball tournament will have ever been in the Queen City.

Often referred to as a basketball tournament with a large reunion mixed in, the CIAA Tournament should draw over 110,000 fans, students and alumni to the New Charlotte Arena and surrounding region with an economic impact of over $12 million each year. Held in Raleigh for the last several years, the tournament’s move to Charlotte has brought an influx of special event planning and marketing elements sure to bring enjoyment to all attending the popular games.

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), founded in 1912, is made up of 12 historically black colleges and universities situated along the Eastern seaboard. It is now the 3rd largest tournament in the NCAA only behind the ACC and the Big East Tournament.

Mayor Pat McCrory, CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry, Local Organizing Committee Chairman Lenny Springs, Johnson C. Smith University President Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority CEO Tim Newman presented plans to turn the center city area into the “CIAA Uptown” experience along with a new logo for the tournament, as well as an update on the booking of hotel rooms, which are ‘filling up fast’.

“This planning effort is a community-wide endeavor that is being orchestrated by a large group of area leaders and event planning professionals; we are elated to bring the best experience ever to the fans of the CIAA.” said Lenny Springs, Wachovia executive and Chairman of Charlotte’s Local Organizing Committee for the 2006 CIAA Tournament.

Some additional highlights of the press conference included:

• Introduction of two CIAA scholarship recipients in the audience. The CIAA Tournament provides scholarships to students attending the twelve participating CIAA schools. In 2005 the tournament generated more than $1,000,000 for the General Scholarship Fund, which is divided equally among member institutions to provide financial assistance to any student with a need, for the first time.

• Introduction of “Get Down Uptown” concept; a broad event that will span throughout the week-long event throughout the entire area of uptown Charlotte.

• Encouragement of fans to volunteer for the CIAA Tournament activities and urged them to visit www.ciaatournament.org to learn more about the opportunities available.