2018 MAAC Men's & Women's Championships to Feature Exciting Variety of Community & Fan Initiatives
ALBANY, N.Y. – February 26, 2018 – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) will feature a series of community and fan initiatives in celebration of the 2018 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships, March 1-5 at Times Union Center in Albany, NY.
The exciting lineup of events will include a variety of activities for basketball fans to supplement the MAAC Basketball Championships featuring top seeded men’s teams Rider University and Canisius College, which each earned a share of the 2017-18 MAAC Men’s Basketball Regular Season Championship. Based on the MAAC Tiebreaker Policy, Rider will enter the tournament as the number one seed.
The top seed among the women for the fourth-straight season is Quinnipiac University. The Bobcats finished the MAAC regular season unbeaten at 18-0 and are the reigning MAAC Women’s Basketball Champions.
The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will also feature teams from
Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Saint Peter’s University and Siena College.
“The MAAC is excited to be back in downtown Albany and we are thrilled to feature several exciting events for families interested in academics, music, food and college basketball,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. “The Capital Region community has proven to be a tremendous host and we are happy to return to Albany for another five days of championship basketball. We are proud to see the MAAC Championships not only bring world-class athletics but also tremendous opportunities for families to get into the action.”
The Albany Capital Center and Times Union Center will welcome the public with championship caliber activities to celebrate the tournament, which will crown a men’s and women’s conference champion on Monday, March 5. The winners will each gain an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Basketball Championships.
“The Times Union Center is honored to host the MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships for the fourth consecutive year and for the very first time in our newly renovated facilities,” said Bob Belber, general manager of the Times Union Center. “Downtown Albany has become the premier destination to showcase this outstanding display of athleticism and there will be a ton of action happening both on the hardwood and in the community.”
MAAC College Fair provides educational and athletic opportunities for students
Fans will have the opportunity to learn more about the academic and athletic opportunities available at conference schools during the MAAC College Fair at the Albany Capital Center on Thursday, March 1 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Guests will be given a free ticket voucher to either the MAAC Men’s or Women’s Basketball Championship game on Monday, March 5. The voucher can be redeemed at the Times Union Center box office.
This year’s MAAC College Fair features a hands-on approach for prospective students and their parents to gather more information about the college admissions process. Each guest will be placed into a 45-minute breakout session upon arrival, which allows for admissions representatives to instruct on topics such as college visits, college fairs, the application process, and financial aid and scholarships.
Upon completion of the breakout session, students and parents will have the opportunity to engage with representatives from each MAAC college or university.
ECAC eSports Exhibition included in MAAC Fan Fest activities at Albany Capital Center
The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) will host an eSports exhibition event sponsored by the MAAC on Thursday, March 1 at the Albany Capital Center.
The exhibition is a day-long event designed to educate college sports and recreation administrators about the rapidly expanding intercollegiate eSports opportunities for their institutions. The event will feature a series of panel discussions followed by a four-team eSports tournament on Riot Games’ League of Legends featuring ECAC and MAAC member schools.
In the tournament’s first match, two MAAC schools, also part of the ECAC’s Division I membership, will bring their long history of fierce competition from the hardwood and athletic fields to the digital realm when Canisius College squares off against Siena College.
The exhibition will be streamed live on the ECAC Network at
ecacnetwork.com.
Band Jam to ring in championship weekend at the newly renovated Times Union Center
Pep bands and spirit squads from MAAC colleges and universities will spread excitement about the return of the tournament to downtown Albany with a Band Jam in the recently renovated Times Union Center Atrium on Friday, March 2 at noon. The public is invited to enjoy the high-energy performances.
Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest to kick off fan excitement at Albany Capital Center on Friday, March 2
The centerpiece off-court event of the weekend is the third annual Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest on Friday, March 2 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center.
The popular fan festival will offer guests the opportunity to sample gourmet mac-n-cheese dishes from nearly a dozen Albany-area restaurants, as well as numerous craft beer and wine options from regional breweries and wineries.
“Hannaford is excited to once again be a part of this outstanding event, which serves as the signature fan attraction of the MAAC Basketball Championships in downtown Albany,” said Hannaford Supermarkets Community Relations Specialist Brian Fabre. “We encourage both basketball and mac-n-cheese fans to join us for a fun evening to kick off the tournament.”
Tickets for the Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest are on-sale now at
www.albanyfanfest.com. Tickets are $8 and entitle guests to five samples of mac-n-cheese. Tasting tickets will also be available at the door (cash only). Craft beer tasting tickets will be $5 for three samples and will be available exclusively at the event (must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID).
The Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest will also feature performances by pep bands and spirit squads from MAAC colleges and universities, as well as family-friendly entertainment and activities, including basketball-themed inflatables and a balloon artist. All musical performances and family activities will take place in the MAAC Fan Zone presented by Pioneer Bank.
Sponsors of the Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest include Hannaford Supermarkets, I LOVE NEW YORK, Pioneer Bank, Dunkin’ Donuts, Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Capital Region Sports Foundation, Capital District YMCA and the MAAC.
Capital Region businesses participate in inaugural I LOVE NEW YORK 3-on-3 MAAC Corporate Basketball Challenge
The Hannaford MAAC-n-Cheese Fest will also feature the semifinal round of the I LOVE NEW YORK 3-on-3 MAAC Corporate Basketball Challenge, a tournament-style competition for local companies and businesses.
The semifinals will pit City Rocks against Northwestern Mutual at 5 p.m. and AYCO versus the Capital District YMCA at 6 p.m.
The championship game of the I LOVE NEW YORK 3-on-3 MAAC Corporate Challenge will take place on Sunday, March 4 at the Times Union Center at 4:30 p.m. prior to the start of the MAAC men’s semifinals.
The tournament is supported by I LOVE NEW YORK and is being run and administered by the Capital District YMCA, which hosted the preliminary rounds.
Children celebrate return of MAAC Championships with Bounce to the Arena
The fun will continue on the morning of Saturday, March 3 when local children will be invited to dribble basketballs from the Palace Theatre to the entrance of the Times Union Center during the Bounce to the Arena.
The first 200 participants will receive a free MAAC basketball and a voucher redeemable for a free ticket to the women’s quarterfinals game on Saturday at noon. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave, and concludes at 10:15 a.m. The Bounce to the Arena commences at 10:30 a.m.
Ticket options for 2018 MAAC Basketball Championships
Individual session passes, flex ticket packages and all-session passes to the 2018 MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships are on-sale now and may be purchased at the Times Union Center box office, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and online at
www.timesunioncenter-albany.com.
For more information about the conference or championship tournament, visit the official MAAC championship page at
MAACSports.com/BASKETBALL.