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CHARLESTON WELCOMES 2017 MOUNTAIN EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 - 13:18

CHARLESTON WELCOMES 2017 MOUNTAIN EAST CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

(Charleston, W.Va.) The City of Charleston and Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) are working to roll out the red carpet for the Mountain East Conference basketball tournament, which begins tomorrow at the Charleston Civic Center.  Tomorrow?s games tip-off Basketball Month in Charleston and launch a five-day, 20-team, 18-game tournament with some of the best college basketball teams in NCAA Division II.

This is the fourth year of the Mountain East Conference Tournament in Charleston, and we've been working to make this event the best one yet,? said Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. Over the next five days, we will see some of the best college basketball in Division II at the best deal for college basketball anywhere ? for only about $2 per game.

The Mayor worked with the MEC leadership and CVB to form a Charleston Hospitality Committee in preparation for this year's tournament.  That committee has been developing initiatives to make the 2017 event a memorable one for student athletes and fans of the teams as well as a cost effective one for the conference leadership and 12 institutions that make up the Mountain East Conference.

CVB Vice President Tim Brady and the Mayor's Senior Assistant, Rod Blackstone, co-chaired the group that included Athletic Directors from the University of Charleston and West Virginia State University, business leaders in Charleston, members of Charleston City Council, local marketing experts, and professors and students in the UC Sports Business Program.

?We formed a great team of people who care about the future of this event in Charleston and who are creative about ways to make it a really special time for the people playing and all those who are cheering for them, said CVB Vice President Tim Brady.  ?Among about a dozen new initiatives, we?ve raised money from local sponsors to help pay for meals for each team after they play, including two brand new Championship Sunday celebrations at one of Charleston?s most popular restaurants, Adelphia.

Among the other new approaches for the 2017 tournament:

  • 'Youth Night' promotions for Wednesday and Thursday, when younger fans ? youth teams, youth groups or families and friends' get in for free with paying adults;
  • A Restaurant Partners Program, in which several locally owned restaurants are offering discounts for players, fans and college officials attending the tournament;
  • Semi-final Saturday Celebrations at four locally-owned establishments for the fans of the teams that win Saturday and prepare for Sunday's championships;
  • An expanded group of volunteers, including Ambassadors designated for each team to provide local connections in any way that will help;
  • New banners and signage at the entrances and on table tops in the Charleston Town Center;
  • Special offers from local restaurants to feed teams together when they are not playing;
  • Commemorative Welcome to Charleston backpacks for student athletes coming to town;
  • Earlier and more direct marketing to communities of MEC teams that have qualified for the tournament;
  • Local promotion of the VIP passes  another great deal for food and beverages for only a $20 upgrade per session and $85 for all nine two-game sessions;
  • A challenge from Ace Adventure Resort for one person to win a memorable outdoor experience in wild, wonderful West Virginia; and
  • Special deals and promotions from restaurants and businesses in the Charleston Town Center.

CHARLESTON?S TEAM OF SUPPORT FOR THE 2017 MEC TOURNAMENT

Championship Sunday sponsors:  Lester Raines Honda and ZMM Architects/BBL Carlton.

Other hospitality sponsors:  National Travel, Charleston Town Center Mall,  Cary Law Office, City National Bank, Ace Adventure Resort, Charleston Chiropractic Company, Advanced Physical Therapy, Jones Law Group, EIN: Employers Innovation Network, Charleston Dental Associates.

Charleston Hospitality Committee:  Tim Brady, Rod Blackstone, Matt Sutton, Lisa McCracken, Dr. Bren Stevens, Nate Burton, John Robertson, Michael Cary, Jim Strawn, the Honorable Andy Richardson, the Honorable Mary Jean Davis, Jo Beyer, Don Wilson, Dr. Brian Pruegger, Jaylen Hinton, Michelle Noel and other students in the University of Charleston Sports Business Program, Brent Sears, Jason Lunsford, the Charleston Lions Club, and about 50 other volunteers.

FOOTNOTE:

1 Because all-session tickets remain at $40 for a reserved seat and $30 for a general admission ticket, the expanded 18-game tournament means that the per-game cost would be $2.22 or $1.67 ? the best deal anywhere in college basketball.

MEC Tournament