Metro Conference

MAAC Schools Aim to ?Pack the House?

1/15/2008 5:00:00 AM

MAAC Sports

Edison, N.J. ? The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference’s ten member institutions will compete in the NCAA sponsored “Pack the House” Challenge on various dates from January 25th through February 17th. The goal of the program is for each participating school to set a women’s basketball attendance record.

The NCAA will select thirty-two winning institutions (one from each of the 31 Division I conferences and one independent) based on creative marketing strategies, and sellouts or the largest percentage increase from the previous year’s single-game record attendance. The marketing staffs of the winnings schools will receive various prizes and the NCAA will make a donation to a non-profit organization on behalf of the 32 winners. Additionally, one grand prize winner will be selected from the pool of 32 winners.

“Each school’s marketing team has put a lot of work into finding different ways to promote this event and entice fans to come out and be a part of the ?Pack the House’ Challenge and women’s college basketball,” said the MAAC’s Director of Women’s Basketball Operations, Alisa Kresge. “Each institution should have a good turn out and that is exciting for the student-athletes.”

The MAAC was the first league to fully commit to the new NCAA initiative. “Our athletics administrators and women’s basketball coaches bought into this right away,” said Commissioner Richard J. Ensor, Esq.

The MAAC’s member schools have always looked for new ways to increase women’s basketball attendance, including the implementation of Kid’s Day and events coinciding with National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

The contest runs from January 1st until February 17th. The MAAC will be participating on the following dates:

                        Date                Teams                                     Time                            Outlet

                        January 25        Manhattan at Canisius               7:00 p.m.

                        January 25        Saint Peter’s at Niagara             7:00 p.m.

January 25        Siena at Marist                          7:30 p.m.

                        February 1        Niagara at Fairfield                    7:00 p.m.

                        February 3        Niagara at Iona                         2:00 p.m.

                        February 3        Marist at Siena                          2:00 p.m.

                        February 8        Rider at Saint Peter’s                7:00 p.m.

                        February 10      Saint Peter’s at Loyola              12:00 p.m.                      MASN

February 15      Iona at Manhattan                     5:30 p.m.                       ESPNU

February 17      Marist at Rider                          2:00 p.m.