2016 SoCon Championships Weekend Festivities

The Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships return to Asheville for its fifth-straight year, with several new special events surrounding the 2016 festivities. 

Highlighting the extracurricular events is BBQ, Beer & Basketball on Monday, Mar. 7, from 5:30 – 7:45 pm, on the concourse at the US Cellular Center.  Attendees will be able to sample BBQ and Beer from Asheville’s most popular restaurants and breweries, including Luella’s, Buxton Hall, Doc Brown’s, Bonfire, Precision Palate and Dickey’s for BBQ and Catawba Brewery, Oskar Blues, Highland Brewing, Hi Wire and Pisgah Brewery for beer.  Tickets to BBQ, Beer & Basketball must be purchased as an add-on to their Championship game ticket, through TicketMaster.com or the US Cellular Center box office.  Cost for the event is $15 for full access and $10 for those under 21 or designated drivers. 

The Downtown Dribble returns on Saturday, with approximately 500 kids dribbling through the streets of Asheville.  Each kid will receive a free ticket to the first men’s game on Saturday at the US Cellular Center.  Prior to the Downtown Dribble will be KidsFest, located in Pack Square, beginning at 9 am.  KidsFest will incorporate kid-friendly activities with healthy lifestyle exhibits, and will be co-hosted by the YMCA of Western NC and iheart radio. 

The newest addition to the 2016 Championships is the first ever SoCon Teddy Bear toss, also on Saturday during halftime of the Noon game.  Attendees are encouraged to make a small donation to Mission Children’s Hospital and in return, will receive a stuffed animal to throw on the court during the game.  Bears thrown will be donated back to Mission Children’s Hospital and provided to kids visiting the hospital for treatments.

Details for events surrounding the 2016 Southern Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships can be found below:

Education Days– Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4

The Southern Conference will be playing host to local elementary school children in Asheville and the surrounding region for the 11:30 am women’s quarterfinal round game on Thursday, March 3 and the 11 am women’s semifinal round game on Friday, March 4.

Downtown Dribble and KidsFest – Saturday, March 5

Pack Square in Downtown Asheville will be populated by games, activities, bands, cheerleaders and mascots, as well as healthy lifestyle exhibits and interactives for children.  KidsFest will begin at 9 am and conclude at 11 am, with the start of the fourth annual Downtown Dribble.  Each kid participating in the Downtown Dribble will receive a free t-shirt and basketball and participate in a dribble parade from Pack Square to the U.S. Cellular Center.  Participants in the Downtown Dribble and KidsFest will also receive free admission to the men’s basketball quarterfinal round session at Noon.

SoCon Teddy Bear Toss – Saturday, March 5, 12:00 Game

Make a small donation to Mission Children's Hospital and you will receive a stuffed animal to throw on the court during the 2016 SoCon Teddy Bear toss.  Bears thrown will be donated to Mission Children's Hospital and provided to kids visiting the hospital for treatments.  1,500 bears are available and ready to put a smile on the face of a child. Mission Children’s Hospital has 130 beds, averages 3,000 patient admissions to its pediatric inpatient units, 4,500 outpatient pediatric surgeries and nearly 14,000 pediatric emergency department visits annually. Each year, approximately 700 ill and premature newborns receive life-saving care in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Mission Children’s Hospital is a member of Mission Health.  The toss will be at halftime at the 12:00 game. 

Wells  Fargo Night - Saturday, March 5

Wells Fargo customers will be able to show their Wells Fargo debit cards for $5 off a regular price adult ticket on Saturday night, March 5th.  Wells Fargo been a supporter of the SoCon Basketball Championships since its return to Asheville in 2012.  The first 2,000 attendees will also receive a free Wells Fargo basketball stress ball.  

SoCon Overtime

When the games end each day, the action in Asheville will be heating up off the court.  Local bars, restaurants and breweries participating in SoCon Overtime will offer musical entertainment, as well as drink and food specials during SoCon 2016.

Basketball, BBQ & Beer – Monday, March 7

The pre-game indoor tailgate party will take place in the concourse area of the U.S. Cellular Center.  The event will give patrons an opportunity to sample fare from various Asheville-Area barbeque restaurants and breweries.  Tickets for the event will be $15 or $10 for designed drivers and those under the age of age 21.  Those attending the event will also need to possess a ticket for Monday night’s championship game, which will take place at 9 pm.

For more information about each event, the tournament or ticket sales, please visit SoConTravel.com.  

YMCA Partners with Southern Conference Basketball Championships for Free Youth Competition

Children ages 7–12 invited to participate for chance to compete at 2016 Southern Conference Basketball Championships presented by General Shale.

The YMCA of Western North Carolina is partnering with Southern Conference for a special competition for the youth in our community. Children ages 7–12 are invited to showcase their shooting skills for a chance to compete in a shootout at the 2016 General Shale Southern Conference Tournament, being held March 3–7, 2016, at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville.

One hundred percent of all souvenir program sales and proceeds from a silent auction filled with sports memorabilia from each SoCon school will benefit the YMCA’s Annual Campaign.

The competition is open to boys and girls ages 7 through 12. The event is free and open to the community; participants do not have to be members of the Y. Each participant will receive an official SoCon Shootout T-shirt, while supplies last.

The first round of competition will take place on Sun., Feb. 21, at the Asheville, Corpening Memorial, Reuter Family, and Hendersonville Family YMCAs. Participants will be split into age groups of 7–8 year olds, 9–10 year olds, and 11–12 year olds. Boys and girls in each age group will compete against each other.

The top five scorers from each age group at each Y location will advance to the market finals on Sun., Feb. 28, at the Asheville and Reuter YMCAs. The winner of each age group in each market will compete at the semi-finals and finals on Sun., March 6, at the 2016 Southern Conference Basketball Championships presented by General Shale in Asheville. 

Pre-registration for the shootout is recommend but not required. Competition times vary by age group at the first round of competition on Sun., Feb. 21. Visit your local YMCA of Western North Carolina for more information about times and registration. For age-verification purposes, all participants must present their birth certificate.

To buy tickets and for more information on the full week of SoCon festivities, visit bit.ly/1TryW9j.

For more information about the shoot-out, please contact Tina Weaver, Director of Program Development, YMCA of Western North Carolina, tweaver@ymcawnc.org, 828 210 9605.

2016 SOCON IS STACKED!

As we welcome a new year in such a beautiful city, we also look forward to a full calendar of exciting sporting events.  The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission is delighted to work with a wide range of partners, sponsors, event promoters, wellness directors, & local agencies to recruit, manage, & produce world-class events for the residents & visitors of Asheville.  Take a look at some of our diverse events for this year, be sure to put them on your calendar, & join us for the fun!

March is a big month for us, as we welcome back the 2016 SoCon Basketball Championships to the US Cellular Center March 3-7, presented by General Shale.  The conference games have proven to be adrenaline-filled so far this season, so we anticipate some high-energy championship games right here, in Asheville, in just 5 weeks. Don't miss out on the excitement! To purchase tickets & for more information about lodging, events, & volunteering, click HERE.  

The ABRSC has partnered with the YMCA of WNC to expand the annual Kids Fest & Downtown Dribble for our local youth on Saturday, March 5 with diverse & fun activities for kids of all ages, with 600 basketballs on a first-come, first-serve basis. The festival begins at 9am, with an 11am dribble to the US Cellular Center for the noon game.

Additionally, the SoCon championship game on Monday, March 7 (9pm) will be preceded by a BBQ, Beer, & Basketball event on the concourse of the US Cellular Center, showcasing some of the area's best breweries & BBQ restaurants.  The event will take place from 5:30-7:45pm, with a limit of 500 tickets available.  Tickets for that event will be available at the US Cellular Center box office.  More information will be released as we get closer to SoCon weekend!

The 2016 Arby's SoCon Wrestling Championships will take place at the Kimmel Arena, on the campus of UNC-Asheville, Saturday, March 5.  To purchase tickets, & for more information click HERE.

For more information on how you can get involved as a volunteer for the 2016 SoCon Basketball & Wrestling Championships, please check our online sign-up HERE.

To become a community sponsor of SoCon, please contact Ben VanCamp at ben@ashevillesports.org

Cyclocross Information Released

We are only a few weeks away from the 2016 USA Cycling National Cyclocross Championships, held at the beautiful Biltmore Estate in Asheville!  As athletes prepare for their big races, and spectators with their best cheering, not to mention our volunteers for their hard work, there is much to communicate.  We've decided to pass along some of the important information to all who are coming to participate in these historic days.  

We have worked the Biltmore and USA Cycling to build a comprehensive suite of documents, including a course map, tech guide, visitor guide, and information about expo and team parking.

Hopefully you can find what you're looking for in the links below--if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us (micah@ashevillesports.org)

USA CYCLING'S EVENT WEBSITE

USAC TECH GUIDE

BILTMORE VISITOR GUIDE

COURSE MAP

TEAM PARKING INFO (stay tuned--coming soon)

EXPO VENDOR INFO (stay tuned--coming soon)

If you have specific questions about ticketing for the Biltmore Estate, please call them directly at 800-411-3812

2016 SoCon Basketball Tickets On Sale

Basketball season is nearly upon us, which means it's almost time to welcome the Southern Conference Basketball teams back to Asheville.  The 2016 SoCon Basketball Championships presented by General Shale returns to the U.S. Cellular Center for March 3-7, 2016. You won't want to miss the opportunity to share the excitement of NCAA basketball with your friends and family.

Tickets can be purchased at the U.S. Cellular Center box office or a Southern Conference school box office.

2016 Ticket Prices

All Sessions GA books - $110
Single Session GA  - $20
VIP Reserved book - $200
GA single session for group of 10 or more  -$14
Student/Youth GA single session - $10
Business Booster program - $150
5 and under  - Free

UNC Asheville Chosen to Host 2016 Big South Women's Basketball Championships

The Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers has unanimously voted to award the 2016 Women’s Basketball Championship to UNC Asheville, it was announced today.
 
"UNC Asheville is excited to have the Big South Conference Women's Basketball Championship return to Asheville and our campus in 2016," stated Janet R. Cone, Director of Athletics. "Working with Tina Porter, from the Asheville Convention and Visitors Bureau, our staff, and the BSC, the Bulldog Athletics Association Board will serve as the Local Organizing Committee and is committed to making this tournament a great success for the student-athletes, coaches, and fans."
 
UNC Asheville will host all rounds of the Women’s Championship for the sixth time, second-most in league history, and for the first time in the 3,200-seat Kimmel Arena on Asheville’s campus. The 2016 tournament will be Thursday-Sunday, March 10-13 - just the third time the event will be played over four consecutive days.  Asheville previously hosted the Big South Women’s Basketball Championship in 1990, 1999, 2000, 2007 and 2008.
 
The Bulldogs won the 2007 Big South Championship held inside the Justice Center for their only tournament championship.
 
“The Big South Conference is excited to bring its version of March Madness to UNC Asheville and the mountains of North Carolina,” Big South Commissioner Kyle B. Kallander stated. “It is clear from the bid that UNC Asheville will do an outstanding job hosting the 2016 Big South Women’s Basketball Championship, and will provide an unbelievable experience for our student-athletes. We are appreciative of the commitment expressed by UNC Asheville’s leadership, Chancellor Mary Grant and Athletics Director Janet Cone, in supporting this event. We can’t wait for March!”
 
"We are extremely excited to be hosting the Big South Women's Basketball Championship at Kimmel Arena in March,” stated Bulldog head coach Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick. “I would like to thank our athletic director, Janet Cone, our Chancellor, Mary Grant, and the Bulldog Athletic Association for constructing and supporting a competitive bid giving the city of Asheville and our institution an opportunity to host our tournament. The majority of my colleagues in the Big South were passionate about bringing all eleven teams to one campus site and we are fortunate to have a city and university that is capable of providing a championship experience that will be second to none."
 
The 2016 Big South Championship will begin on March 10 with three opening round games, which will be available live on the Big South Network. The quarterfinals and semifinals will both be live on ESPN3, as well as the 2016 Championship game, which will be played at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13. More information on the 2016 events, including finalized game times and ticket information, will be announced at a later date.

Source: uncabulldogs.com

SoCon Tip-Off Recap

Southern Conference Basketball Season has begun!

The buzz of the 2016 Southern Conference Basketball season has officially begun with our Tip-Off Celebration last night at Century Room above Pack's Tavern. It was a night full of excitement, joy, and the occasional chills, not to mention a room full of very influential, passionate people.

The event was incredibly fortunate to have coach Mike Young, Wofford, and coach Brittney Ezell, ETSU, to speak. Their speeches amplified the amount of energy in the room and gave the partners and sponsors who have dedicated their time to the tournament a sense of pride.

Coach Ezell made a clear point to discuss the amount of work that has been put into this tournament and how year after year there is something new herself and her team are able to enjoy on and off the court. "There are so many restaurants we can't eat at that the team wants to eat at, there are so many things the team wants to do, that we can't do. We are so thankful for all that Asheville does for us."

Coach Young's speaking points also electrified the room and were on everyone's mind at the end of the night. He discussed how the student athletes and the coaching staffs feel embraced and feel like superstars when visiting Asheville. "What you do for our players, to make them like a big deal, like this is the greatest tournament on Earth. They believe that, I believe that."

Members of the SoCon staff, the local organizing committee, and community members also honored City Councilman Jan Davis, who also serves on the Board of the ABRSC.  Davis has been pivotal in bringing SoCon to Asheville, and worked to support essential renovations at the US Cellular Center.  We are delighted to have Jan Davis, and his fellow City Council and County Commission members who were in attendance, serve this community and offer their support of SoCon.

Special thanks to Commissioner John Iamarino and his entire SoCon staff for helping make the Tip-Off Celebration an enjoyable gathering for all.

We are extremely grateful for everyone who came out, and look forward to a successful and exciting SoCon Championship event.

Link of Video Recap:  http://www.socondigitalnetwork.com/socon/video/socon-2015-16-socon-basketball-tipoff-celebration

THE BASKETBALL BUZZ HAS BEGUN!

Energy is building for basketball season, and especially for the 2016 Southern Conference Basketball Championships taking place in beautiful downtown Asheville at the U.S. Cellular Center's ExploreAsheville.com arena March 3-7, 2016.

Tickets will be going on sale in November, but the buzz is already starting among the city's loyal basketball fans, as well as members of the community who are excited to host such a big event. Member schools are starting practices, and coaches are fired up about a sizzling hot season!

People from near and far have been asking about how they can get involved in the action, so here are some resources for helping make SoCon 2016 a tremendous success, and some links for how to join in on the buzz.

VOLUNTEER! Click here and see how you can participate!

SPONSOR! Email ben@ashevillesports.org or call 828.713.5825

PURCHASE TICKETS!  For more information about the schedule & how to purchase tickets, click here.

HAVE A BLAST IN AVL!  For more information about local accommodations, attractions, & activities in the Asheville area here.

Cyclo-cross National Championship Schedule Release along with Lodging and Vendor / Team Information

USA Cycling announces the 2016 Cyclo-cross National Championships schedule with races taking place at Antler Hill Village on Biltmore Estate, January 5 – 10, 2016.  The complete schedule is available at usacycling.org/2016/16cxnationals.

Over 1,500 racers and an additional 6,000 spectators are expected to attend the 2016 Championships in Asheville, NC.  Visitors to the area can find a variety of options for lodging while they are in Asheville.  Special rate offers can be found at exploreasheville.com/2016-national-cyclo-cross-national-championship.  ExploreAsheville.com is also the source for additional information on exploring the Asheville area’s wonderful arts, culinary, outdoors and craft beer culture.

Also released today is information for companies that desire to be a vendor at the 2016 Cyclo-cross National Championships.  Vendors can reserve booth space to showcase their products to over 1,500 competitors, 6,000 cycling enthusiasts and thousands of Biltmore visitors during the championships. Booth spaces range in size from a 10’ x 10’ to 20’ x 50’ for companies looking to make a big impact. Reserve your 2016 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships booth space today by visiting AshevilleSports.org/expo.
 
Teams may reserve space by also visiting AshevilleSports.org/expo. Team space options are 10x10 or 20x20 with the option to add on a 10x10 space. No product sampling, displays, test rides, or product sales are permitted to take place in the team area.  
 
Vendor and team spaces include a limited number of entry passes to Biltmore Estate with the option to add-on power, tables, chairs, tents, and additional wristbands as needed. 
 
Both teams and vendors will be required to provide certificates of insurance to the Asheville-Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, The Biltmore Company, and USA Cycling. Tent spaces over 10x20 will require fire marshal inspection.
 
Reserve your race village space by visiting AshevilleSports.org/expo and be a part of the action at the 2016 Cyclo-Cross Nationals event.

Lucas Owens, UNC-A baseball player & management major, interns at the ABRSC

WE ARE HONORED TO ANNOUNCE THAT LUCAS OWENS IS A PART OF THE ABRSC TEAM

Lucas Owens is from Forest City, NC and is a senior Management major with an emphasis in marketing at the University of North Carolina Asheville. Lucas has had thoughts of grad school but also has aspirations to work in sports management, maybe with a professional team or a sports related organization. He is on his fourth year playing at UNC-A as a catcher. Lucas has experience in coaching, mentoring, and event management, and enjoys all sports, traveling, and outdoor recreation. Lucas adds that he is appreciative for his opportunity to work with the ABRSC, and, “being able to live in a city not to far from home but far enough away.”