MEAC Tournament Kicks Off Today in Raleigh

WRALSportsFan

MEAC Tournament Kicks Off Today in Raleigh

Mar 6, 2007

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Raleigh, N.C. — March Madness takes over in Raleigh as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament kicks off Tuesday.

It will be the second year the tournament will be in Raleigh after moving from Richmond, Va. Last year, the tournament generated $3 million for the Triangle.

The tournament was brought to Raleigh to replace the CIAA Tournament, which moved to Charlotte. According to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the MEAC Tournament drew about 20,000 fans last year. In 2000, the CIAA Tournament's first year in Raleigh, it drew 55,000 fans.

However, organizers said to give the MEAC Tournament some time.

"With anything, it's got to take time. You can't expect success overnight, so it's going to to have to grow," said MEAC fan Eric Shields.

This year, only one local team will be in the MEAC Tournament -- North Carolina A&T from Greensboro, but next year, North Carolina Central will be added to the conference.

Another advantage the MEAC has over the CIAA is that the winner of the MEAC Tournament gets a spot in the NCAA tournament. Games will start Tuesday at the RBC Center at 11 a.m.

Reporter: John Bachman
Web Editor: Kamal Wallace

Most Recent Comments

Intelligent folks, do not get down low with those that will never understand.

Just let them be...they like what they like and perhaps we do not care for what they care for, but, let them be.

Again, it doesn't matter if it's ACC, CIAA or MEAC...I support them all, they bring sports lovers together and it brings business to the city.....and that's the bottom line.

are you following me munch?

lets igonore bigots!

I dont have a fav college team...I just watch occasionally.

I think it is pretty obvious what I am saying in my post. I don't think I need to elaborate.

narck9,what exactly is meant by your statement?

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan