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RALEIGH — The CIAA Tournament will not start until Monday at theEntertainment and Sports Arena, but fans kicked off the festivities with a pep rally at Fayetteville Street Mall in Raleigh on Friday.
The CIAA is composed of 12 colleges from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. As many as 30,000 people are expected to attend the event and spend an estimated $8.5 million during the week.
"It's going to be a great tournament, and I'm ready to get it started," says Raleigh Mayor Paul Coble.
Winston-Salem has had the tournament for the past five years. The tournament is expected to bring in $26 million during its three-year run in Raleigh.
People from all over the country will be in Raleigh for the CIAA Tournament action, but it is not just about basketball. There are other fun activities planned.
There will be a job fair on Wednesday at the Raleigh Convention and Conference Center. On Thursday, it will be High School Day. On Saturday at the ESA, there will be a 3-point shootout, a cheerleading exhibition and the "Battle of the Bands."
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