MAAC Basketball Championships Reach Out to the Local Community with Family Fun Programs and Events
MAAC Sports
(Albany, NY – January 23, 2015) - The MAAC Men's and Women's Basketball Championships playing at the Times Union Center in Albany from March 5 - 9 has organized events surrounding the on court games for students and families in the community.
The first event is a College Fair on Thursday, March 5 from 9:30 a.m. to1 p.m. at the Empire State Plaza. All 11 MAAC schools will be offering academic information for high school students in attendance. This event will also feature keynote speaker Jimmy Patsos, the head coach of the Siena Men’s Basketball team, and a panel of admissions representatives.
On Friday, March 6, local elementary school students will participate in the Bus Brigade. At 11 a.m. buses will bring students who have been participating in the MAAC Gives Back program to the Empire State Plaza where they will hear an anti-bullying message from a guest speaker. The students on the trip will then be able to watch the women’s basketball quarterfinal games at the Times Union Center and witness the action from the stands.
Recognized during the women’s sessions will be the student winner of the MAAC Gives Back essay contest. MAAC Gives Back is a year-long program designed to connect student-athletes with elementary students in the Albany/Schenectady area. Along with the essay contest, the program also provides each participating student with a pen-pal from one of the MAAC teams.
Two events will take place on Saturday, March 7. First at 10 a.m. is a Bounce to the Arena, where those participating will start off bouncing a basketball at the Palace Theater and continue on dribbling as they walk to the Times Union Center. Groups of dribblers will be joined by bands, mascots, cheer and dance squads from the MAAC schools. Outside the arena on the South Pearl Street plaza, the excitement for the Championship grows with the Fan Fest, which starts at 11:30 a.m. Fan Fest allows everyone to participate in their own tournament-like experience with interactive games, bounce houses, music and more. The Fan Fest will also be held on Sunday March 8 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more on the conference basketball game schedule, please visit, maacsports.com. Follow the MAAC on Facebook and Twitter: @MAACSports. Follow MAAC Basketball on Twitter using the hashtag #MAACHoops.