CIAA 2019 Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament Features Community Events to Inspire, Empower and Engage Attendees

CIAA’S Education Day, Hall of Fame Breakfast, Women’s Empowerment Brunch, Minority Business and Leadership Symposium and Toyota Fan Fest Events Among Popular Events During Tournament Week

Charlotte, NC (Feb. 20, 2019) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA^®), the nation’s first African-American athletic conference, will host the 2019 CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament in Charlotte, NC, next week, February 25 – March 2, 2019. In addition to the highly-anticipated games on the court at Bojangles’ Coliseum and the Spectrum Center, fans from around the country and the Charlotte area will have a variety of community activities to engage in throughout the week, showcasing the CIAA’s commitment to providing an informative, enriching and entertaining experience for attendees.

On Tuesday, Feb. 26 and Wednesday, Feb. 27, CIAA Education Day events are the focus – Middle School STEM Day at Ovens Auditorium and Bojangles’ Coliseum and the High School Program at Charlotte Convention Center provides Charlotte area middle and high school students an opportunity to learn more about the CIAA conference college and universities. College recruiters from CIAA Conference institutions in Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia will be on hand to meet with students. At the Middle School STEM Day, The Food Lion Outstanding Middle School Educator Awardwill be presented to middle school professionals whose leadership and dedication inspire a love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Empowerment, inclusion, leadership and career topics will be the focus at the invitation only CIAA Women’s Empowerment Brunch Presented by Nationwide.  The CIAA Minority Business & Leadership Symposium Presented by Fifth Third Bank and the CIAA Career Expo both take place on Thursday, Feb. 28 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Click here to purchase tickets for the Minority Business & Leadership Symposium. The Career Expo connects businesses and organizations with recent graduates, current students from CIAA member-schools and other universities and working professionals with a wide selection of available job opportunities. The Expo includes over 60 vendors including a variety of industries as well as graduate programs. Participants can find out more about the Career Expo and register for this free event by clicking here.

On Friday, March 1, the CIAA’s charitable side is highlighted with the 5^th Annual CIAA Shoes of Hope Presented by Coke Zero. In partnership with Samaritan’s Feet’s shoe distribution initiative, a new pair of socks and shoes will be provided to youth, along with the message of hope, love and compassion. On March 1, CIAA legends of the past will be honored at the CIAA Hall of Fame Breakfast at the Charlotte Convention Center.

In addition to the community events earlier in the week, powerhouse recording artists 2 Chainz and Kandi Burruss, The Tom Joyner Morning Show and other fan-favorite groups and activities are among the featured activities at the CIAA Toyota Fan Fest. The two-day free, open-to-the-public, community event at the Charlotte Convention Center, Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, features interactive sponsor activations, concerts and other family-friendly entertainment events as part of CIAA Tournament Week. 

Nationally syndicated radio program The Tom Joyner Morning Show will broadcast live on Friday, March 1 from the Charlotte Convention Center from 6:00am – 10:00am ET, followed by the High School Band Competition and the Queen City Cheer & Dance Classic Presented by U.Fit.

The evening’s entertainment, free and open to the public, will feature Grammy-winning singer, songwriter Kandi Burruss. Burruss burst on the scene in 1992 as a member of the music group Xscape. As a songwriter she won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for her writing contributions on the hit TLC song “No Scrubs” and hits for artists such as Destiny's Child, Alicia Keys, and more.  She is also considered a fan favorite on the hit reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

Saturday morning at the Charlotte Convention Center kicks off with the CIAA Super Saturday Presented by Lowe’s activities from 9am – 12pm. Performances from 11-year-old viral rap sensation That Girl Lay, the winner of the U.Fit Cheer & Dance Classic and a CIAA cheerleading exhibition are the featured highlights. The Miss CIAA crowning ceremony presented by Food Lion will also be among the many activities the public can enjoy for free. Fans will also be entertained by musical performances from up and coming Def Jam Records artists Tyanah Maray, TJ Porter, Fetty Luciano, Bernard Jabs, Nimic and Dominic Lord.

Toyota Fan Fest events resume Saturday afternoon at 12pm, including the Open House, Fuzion Force performances and vendor and sponsor activations with giveaways for the public. Wrapping up CIAA Tournament Week with a free evening performance for fans will be Grammy-winning Def Jam recording artist 2 Chainz, whose most recent album “Pretty Girls Like Trap Music” was released in 2017. In 2016 The New York Times pronounced him “all hail our greatest punchline rapper, 2 Chainz.”

Previously announced recording artists Jacquees, Saweetie, Mike Phillips, Bobby V and Porcelan will perform at the Spectrum Center during the men’s and women’s semi-finals and final games on March 1 and 2. Tickets are required for entry into The Spectrum Center and can be purchased at the Spectrum Center box office and Ticketmaster. 

The basketball tournament features the conference’s 13-member institutions, including its newest member Claflin University. This year’s 24-game bracket will begin at Bojangles’ Coliseum on Monday evening, Feb. 25, to accommodate a new round of games and will conclude with the highly-anticipated championship semi-finals and finals at the Spectrum Center on Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2.

As the first African American athletic conference in the country, the CIAA launched the “Live the Legacy” campaign exclusively for this year’s tournament, incorporating its key pillars of tradition, leadership, and community to engage fans. The campaign is designed to showcase the CIAA schools, players and coaches, as well as fans of the game and the conference’s immersive cultural experience. The “Live the Legacy” campaign will be integrated across all CIAA championships and platforms including social media and will be featured on the digital assets of the CIAA’s 13 affiliated colleges and universities’ as well as partner sites.  #LiveTheLegacy, and #WeAreLegacy  and the conference’s longstanding rallying cry #CIAAForLife will be used across all social media platforms.

Single-Session tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster and the box offices at Bojangles’ Coliseum and Spectrum Center.  Proceeds from all ticket sales support scholarships for students attending CIAA member schools.

Fans seeking additional information regarding game dates, times, updates, Toyota Fan Fest and musical performances at the 2019 CIAA Basketball Tournament can download the CIAA Mobile App.

The CIAA Championship Basketball Tournament is ranked 3^rd among the most attended and anticipated NCAA events, and currently draws over 150,000 fans. 

About the CIAA

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first African American athletic conference and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 13 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Chowan University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com. For more information on the CIAA Basketball Tournament, visitCIAATournament.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.