2007 MEAC Basketball Tournament Names Headquarters Hotels

[Raleigh, NC] – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced today that the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley and Embassy Suites Hotel Raleigh-Crabtree will jointly serve as headquarters hotels for the duration of the 2007 MEAC Basketball Tournament.

“With fans, officials and tournament planners coming from across the country, the headquarters hotels serve as sort of an informal hub of activity during the tournaments,” said Dr. Dennis Thomas, MEAC Commissioner. “To have two high-quality hotels so close to each other and just minutes from the arena will make the experience top notch for everyone.”

The Sheraton Raleigh Hotel also serves as a premier property for the Tournament.

The first game of the 2007 MEAC Basketball Tournament tips off Tuesday, March 6, and the championship games are played on Saturday, March 10.
Last year’s event, the first in Raleigh/Wake County, was a success, with attendance growing 50% over the prior year’s tournament. More than 22,500 people attended the tournament games, with additional attendance at related events such as the Tom Joyner Sky Show, High School Day, Comedy Show, Fashion Show and much more.

Ticket books go on sale September 1 at www.meachoops.com, the official website of the 2007 Basketball Tournament. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster outlets nationwide, at all MEAC Schools Box Offices, or at the RBC Center box office. Sales of individual game tickets will not begin until February 26, 2007.

About the MEAC Basketball Tournament
The MEAC is a Division I basketball program comprised of 11 historically black colleges and universities located across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman College, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and South Carolina State University.

The men’s and women’s basketball tournament will be played in Raleigh/Wake County at least through 2008. Both the men’s and women’s tournament winner receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
CONTACT: Jim Tobin
September 12, 2006 919-719-8982

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