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CIAA tournament starts Tuesday; first games at Bojangles Coliseum

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The first game of the CIAA Tournament tips off Tuesday, and for the first time events will be at Bojangles Coliseum in east Charlotte.

The first game is set to tip off at 10 a.m., but the tournament runs through Saturday with events in uptown as well. The first half of the five-day tournament will be at Bojangles Coliseum. The second half will be held at the Spectrum Center in uptown. Events surrounding the tournament will also be held at the Charlotte Convention Center.

[GoCarolinas: CIAA events in Charlotte]

Security crews went through their final checks before the first game. The tournament was an extraordinary event last year, so visitors were limited in what they could bring and police had more power to search visitors.

City leaders are reviewing the controversial policy so this year the tournament was not designated an extraordinary event.

The games are expected to bring millions of dollars into Charlotte’s economy, and about 150,000 people are expected to attend CIAA events this week.

“Every year it’s been growing. Last year was $57.4 million of economic activity,” said Tom Murray with the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

Since this is one of the only sporting events that has stayed rooted in Charlotte despite the controversial transgender bathroom law, House Bill 2, the commissioner of the tournament hopes this event brings people together to talk about the hard issues at the core of the controversy.

The city of Charlotte warned residents that there may be some impacts to city services during the five-day tournament.

Charlotte Department of Transportation: 

Heavy Uptown pedestrian and motorist traffic is expected.

Drivers around uptown are advised of the following:

  • 150 school buses will be transporting young students and parking around the uptown area during Education Day on Wednesday, Feb. 22. Children will be walking from and to buses and various venues, and traffic will be very heavy.
  • There are no planned street closures, but sporadic closures of Fifth Street near the Spectrum Center may occur after key games end.
  • When pedestrian traffic is high, driver turns onto side streets from College Street and Tryon Street may be prohibited, specifically on both College Street and Tryon Street between Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Sixth Street.
  • On Friday and Saturday, driver turns from College Street and Tryon Street between Stonewall and Ninth streets may be prohibited.
  • Drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes.
  • On-street parking will be limited on portions of Trade Street, Church Street, Tryon Street, College Street, Fifth Street and Sixth Street.
  • Drivers wishing to park are encouraged to access lots by using the side street where the lot or deck is located.

Drivers and pedestrians are cautioned to be alert at all times. Pedestrians will be crossing streets and walking to the Spectrum Center from parking lots, garages and the convention center. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers will be on duty at every main pedestrian intersection in this area during the event.

People walking near work zone areas should be alert, cautious and allow extra traveling time. It is advised they cross at signalized intersections, use pedestrian walk signals where available and abide by detour signage.

Drivers traveling through work zone areas should be alert and extra cautious. Drivers should get in the correct lane well in advance and constantly be on the lookout for vehicles merging into adjacent travel lanes as they approach a work zone. Drivers should double their following distance.

Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS): 

CATS will run additional service on the LYNX Blue Line. A train will run every ten minutes during the following times:

  • Friday, Feb. 24: 3:30-11:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Feb. 25: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Solid Waste Services:

Solid Waste will have additional crews assigned to areas affected by CIAA events in the Central Business District. Solid Waste has also scheduled additional crews on CATS Light Rail and the CATS Gold Line stations throughout the tournament.

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