Atlantic City Press Room

Atlantic City Press Release

It's the slam dunk event of the year at Boardwalk Hall! March Madness- Atlantic City style is back when the Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship returns March 11-14. Single session tickets go on sale Monday, February 16 at 12 noon, and great seats start at just $25. Tickets will be available at the Boardwalk Hall box office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at http://www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-736-1420.

“The A-10 Men’s Basketball Championship just gets better and better each year,” said Jeffrey Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. "And, Boardwalk Hall is the perfect place to catch all the action. After the game, fans can enjoy an ‘Always Turned On’ Atlantic City, offering everything from golf and spas to nightlife, dining, great attractions and more.”

The 33^rd annual Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Championship returns to historic Boardwalk Hall for the third straight year. The Championship features twelve Division I college basketball teams, including nationally ranked Xavier, defending Champion Temple, and fellow Philly favorites St. Joe's and La Salle. Six sessions will span four days with opening round doubleheaders beginning Wednesday, March 11 at noon. The final game will take place Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. The 2009 Champion receives an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship.

The schedule is as follows:

Atlantic 10 Men’s Basketball Single Sessions Schedule at Boardwalk Hall

During the Championship, fans won't want to miss the Pepsi FanZone presented by the Nike Factory Store at Atlantic City Outlets The Walk. It's a fan-friendly interactive entertainment area that is packed with fun, food and games for the whole family! Hoops enthusiasts can pick up some official A-10 merchandise, play ball on a basketball court, bid in a silent sports memorabilia auction presented by BC Sports Collectibles, or show off a team logo airbrushed by one of the many face painters on site. Children are invited to play in one of several inflatable games, and parents can take advantage of a lounge area filled with big screen TVs. The Pepsi FanZone presented by the Nike Factory Store at Atlantic City Outlets The Walk opens one hour prior to all sessions Wednesday night through Saturday in the Ballroom, and best of all, it's free for all ticket holders.

A number of special offers have been incorporated into this year's Championship. For details and a full listing of all the promotions, or to view a seating chart, destination information, and travel links, visit http://www.atlanticcitynj.com. Ticket and hotel packages are now available with The Chelsea, a new boutique hotel located on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Visit http://www.atlanticcitynj.com/collegehoops.asp and click on hotel packages for pricing. Information on air service to Atlantic City International Airport is available at http://www.acairport.com.

Discounts rates are also available for groups of 15 or more. Fans can save $5 per ticket on either Silver or Bronze seats when booking a group for any session Wednesday through Friday. For more information or to place a group order, call 609-348-7021.

The Atlantic 10 Conference, which spans eight states and the District of Columbia with a total population of almost 73 million people, will crown champions in 21 sports this season. Such events consist of baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, field hockey, men's golf, women’s lacrosse, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming & diving, men's and women's tennis, and women's volleyball. Visit http://www.atlantic10.org for more information.

The A-10 Conference consists of Temple University who is the 2008 defending champion, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University, and Xavier University. This event is sponsored by the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority.

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The Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority serves as the destination's principal marketing arm,stimulating economic growth through convention, business and leisure tourism development. The Authority oversees the management of the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall. The Authority is the first in New Jersey to achieve Destination Marketing Accreditation by the Destination Marketing Association International. The Authority is among an elite group of 47 accredited convention and visitor bureaus throughout the United States. For complete Atlantic City information, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com.

Historic Boardwalk Hall, which first opened in 1929, underwent a three year, $90 million renovation to transform the building into a modern special events arena capable of variable seating for up to 14,770 people. Listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks, Boardwalk Hall's renovation produced a glimpse into the dramatic and original Roman Renaissance style, while providing a 21st century experience in terms of comfort and amenities. Upon it’s reopening in 2001, it has been recognized as the destination’s premier entertainment venue, known for high profile concerts, family shows, and sporting events. SMG manages the Atlantic City Convention Center and Boardwalk Hall on behalf of its client, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. Visit us at http://www.boardwalkhall.com for more information.

Boardwalk Hall will present the Atlantic 10 Conference Men’s Basketball Championship March 11 – 14, 2009. The A-10 Conference consists of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of Dayton, Duquesne University, Fordham University, The George Washington University, La Salle University, University of Massachusetts, University of Rhode Island, University of Richmond, St. Bonaventure University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Louis University, Temple University, and Xavier University. Boardwalk Hall is the 10^th facility to host this event.