Charlotte, NC (SEPTEMBER 25, 2019) –
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA
®), the nation’s first African American athletic conference, today unveils its 2020 tournament logo in honor of the 75
th anniversary of its storied CIAA Basketball Tournament.
The new logo incorporates the shape of a diamond, the traditional gift for a 75
th anniversary, with the skyline of host city Charlotte overlaid on the crest in a nod to the tournament’s 15 years there, and weaves shades of blue throughout in keeping with the CIAA’s traditional branding.
The 75
th season will begin with a virtual basketball media day hosted by Stan Lewter, the play-by-play voice of the CIAA on Tuesday, October 1
st at the Fairfield Inn in Charlotte. The event will feature male and female basketball players from each conference school along with their coaches for a look at the upcoming season. The media day will be streamed live on the
CIAA Sports Network beginning at 8:45 a.m. with each school getting a 15-minute focus. A full list of the athletes participating in the CIAA Media Day will be available at
TheCIAA.com.
“This year’s tournament is special for many reasons. We’re not only celebrating 75 years of CIAA Tournament history, this year also marks our 15
th year in Charlotte, NC,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams. “Tournament week will be very memorable. It will be a time of reflection with our alumni and fans and a celebration of our players and coaches who helped pave the way. If you haven’t been to the tournament in a few years, or have never been, this is the year to come, buy your ticket, support our member institutions and celebrate this historic achievement.”
“Through a social media campaign and new programming on CIAASN, during the season, the CIAA will share the stories of the current and legendary athletes who were instrumental to the game of basketball and contributed to our success – culminating with an historic edition of the 2020 John B. McLendon Hall of Fame Ceremony,” McWilliams added.
The first CIAA men’s tournament took place in 1946 at Turner’s Arena in Washington, D.C. and was presented on a budget of only $500. Over the next seven decades, the tournament has become one of the most successful annual college events in the country, adding the women’s Championship in 1975.
After stints in Norfolk, VA, Durham, Greensboro and Raleigh, NC, the tournament found a home in Charlotte in 2006. The 2020 season marks the 15
th consecutive year and final season in Charlotte before the tournament moves to Baltimore, MD for 2021-2023. In honor of the 75
th Anniversary, the CIAA will launch early bird ticket promotions beginning in mid-October, which will be available through all CIAA member institutions and Ticketmaster. Fan housing and hotel packages are currently available at
ciaatournament.org
The Men and Women’s CIAA Basketball Tournament will be held from February 25 -26
th at Bojangles Stadium and from February 27 – 29
th at the Spectrum in Charlotte, NC.
Last year’s championships drew over 125,000 attendees for the games and surrounding activities and generated $43.7 million of economic input for the Charlotte region.
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. 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. In 2020, the conference celebrates the special 75
th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament - an event that has become a must-see in the African -American community. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State 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. Chowan University is an associate member in football and women’s bowling. For more information on the CIAA, visit
theciaa.com, like us on
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Instagram.