MAAC to Allow Limited ‘Friends and Families’ at 2021 Hercules Tires Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament

2/26/2021 10:00:00 AM

EDISON, N.J. (Feb. 26, 2021) - Today the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) announced that 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships will not sell tickets to the public. It was also decided that the MAAC will allow a limited number of 'Friends and Families' of the basketball programs to be admitted to the championship that take place March 8-13 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.
 
The decision to allow 'Friends and Families' reduced capacity attendance was made possible by the recent revision to capacity limits that were lifted this past Monday to 10% of the arena's overall capacity.  The changed policy still requires physical distancing and other COVID-19 restrictions.  It was made in conjunction with the CDC, state, local health authorities, and representatives from Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA).
 
“It is great that the recent executive order lifting attendance limits in athletic venues will allow us to accommodate a limited number of ‘Friend and Families’ of the teams, particularly the parents, siblings and children of the student-athletes and the coaching staffs,” notes Rich Ensor, MAAC Commissioner. “This is a significant first step in the return to athletic competition in New Jersey and the MAAC membership is pleased to be the first event in Boardwalk Hall since last March when the pandemic abruptly shut down March Madness.”
 
The event capacity will include all participants, essential staff and family members of each participating team's student-athletes and coaches. All attendees must wear face coverings and physically distance during the event. Thorough cleaning, disinfecting and safety measures will be a priority at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.
 
As COVID-19 has created challenges for intercollegiate athletics, the MAAC has implemented COVID-19 risk mitigation strategies, including appropriate testing. In addition to testing, the institution affirms its student-athletes, coaches, staff, and others involved with intercollegiate athletics at the institution are observing risk mitigation activities such as daily self-health checks, frequent washing of hands, wearing masks, social distancing, and other protocols as recommended by the CDC, state, and local health authorities.
 
“For most MAAC basketball fans we offer the promise that in 2022 the conference expects full normalization of operations at the championships including the Fan Fest and the many schoolchildren related activities that were planned for the Atlantic City community last year,” continued Ensor.  “In the meantime, please follow the competition on the ESPN family of networks.”
   

The 2020-21 campaign concludes with the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Basketball Championships from Mar. 8-13 at Atlantic City's Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. Stay up to date with all MAAC basketball by visiting MAACSports.com/basketball and by following @MAACHoops and #MAACHoops on Twitter.
 
About the 2021 Hercules Tires MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships:
The MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return to New Jersey on March 8-13, 2021 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. To stay up to date on MAAC basketball, visit http://maacsports.com/basketball and follow @MAACHoops on Twitter.
 
About Time Out for Black Lives
Time Out for Black Lives aims to inspire and educate youth, athletes, families and fans. The initiative has an interactive website where coaches and student-athletes from MAAC basketball programs contribute their time and resources to read children’s books in entertaining videos, all focusing on Black culture, history, music and myths. The program comes as part of the MAAC’s United for Justice campaign that was announced over the summer.  For more information, visit timeoutforblacklives.com.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.