5 Must-Attend CIAA Events

Want to get a feel for CIAA Week? We have a comprehensive list of the more than 150 parties at www.charlottemagazine.com/ciaa. Here are five events that will give anyone a taste of the CIAA experience. Plus the CIAA by the numbers
Magazine Staff

Yolanda Adams Morning Show

It’s become a CIAA tradition for locals and visitors alike to get up early on this Friday morning to be a part of a nationally syndicated radio show’s broadcast. Grammy Award-winning singer turned radio personality Yolanda Adams is a fan favorite, and you can expect surprise celebrity guests to appear. Friday, March 2. 5:30-10 a.m. Free. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St.
 

CIAA Toyota Fan Experience
It’s a full schedule of events and activities for fans, including prize and ticket giveaways, car displays, video game and interactive zones, cooking exhibitions, and performances by national recording artists. Friday, March 2, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-8 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Free. Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St.

CIAA Women and Men’s Championships
After battling it out all week, the final two women’s and men’s basketball teams will compete for the tournament championship. The women’s game will be televised on Bounce TV and ESPN3, while the men’s game will be shown on ESPNU and ESPN3. Saturday, March 3. Women’s, 5 p.m.; men’s 8 p.m. $50-$275. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St., ciaatournament.org/buy-tickets.

CIAA 100th-Anniversary Celebration
Legendary band The O’Jays will perform its greatest hits. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served, including a slice of the 100th-anniversary cake, and guests receive a souvenir glass to take home. Dancing will follow the concert. Saturday, March 3. 11 p.m. $35. Crown Ballroom, Charlotte Convention Center, 501 S. College St., ciaatournament.org.

Sister 2 Sister Presents Queen City Celebration Finale
It’s sure to be a live party, hosted by Charlottean and platinum-selling singer Anthony Hamilton, while the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff mans the turntables. Saturday March 3, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Cost varies; VIP tables available. Urban Garden, at 1 Bank of America Center, 150 N. College St.
 

 

A Numbers Game

The CIAA Tournament, taking place February 27-March 4, is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to Charlotte and generate tens of millions of dollars. Let’s break it down:

 

  • 67: Years the basketball tournament has been held

  • 190,000: Atttendance for the official events in 2011

  • 100: Age of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

  • 7: Consecutive years it’s been in Charlotte

  • 12: Schools in the CIAA

  • $44.3 Million: Estimated economic impact in 2011

 

For our comprehensive coverage of 2012 CIAA Week, February 27 to March 4, including an events and parties list, stories, and photos, visit www.charlottemagazine.com/ciaa.

This article appears in the March 2012 issue of Charlotte magazine.
Categories: BOB Awards, Buzz > Update, News & Features, The Buzz

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