Local Food & Drink to be Featured During Women's College Basketball Fan Fest
ALBANY, NY; Thursday, March 21, 2019 – College basketball fans are invited to sample local food and drink during the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest at the Albany Capital Center on Friday, March 29 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Admission to the Fan Fest is free.
Fans will enjoy tastings from numerous wineries, cideries and breweries during the event, courtesy of Saratoga Eagle, including: wine from Coppiere, Martha Clara, Napa by Napa and Silverpeak; cider from 1911 Cider and Citizen Cider; and craft beer from Founders Brewing Company; Great Lakes Brewing Company; Goose Island Brewery; Kona Brewing Company; Northway Brewing Company; and Paradox Beer Company.
The pre-game event will also offer samplings of signature dishes from Albany County restaurants, including 677 Prime; Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen; Black and Blue Steak and Crab; Cider Belly Doughnuts; City Beer Hall; Iron Gate Café; Public House 42; Valente’s Restaurant; Vintage House; and Wellington’s.
The Fan Fest will be held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional, which will feature the four teams from the Albany bracket to emerge from this weekend’s first and second round action. The Albany bracket is headlined by top-seed Louisville and perennial women’s college basketball powerhouse UConn.
Sampling tickets for the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest are available at
www.albanyfanfest.com. Fans can save $2 per set of tickets with advance purchase. Tickets purchased in advance are $8 and entitle guests to five tasting dishes. Tasting tickets will also be available at the door for $10 (cash only).
Wine, cider and craft beer tasting tickets will be $5 for three samples and are available exclusively at the event (cash only; must be at least 21 years old with a valid ID).
The Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest will also feature free family-friendly activities and entertainment, including face painting, balloon artists, inflatables, and college pep bands.
Tickets to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional at the Times Union Center can be purchased online at
www.NCAA.com/WBBTickets.
The Times Union Center will host Regional semifinal action at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 29. The winners will face each other in the Regional Final on Sunday, March 31 at noon.
The Albany Regional winner will advance to the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four.
The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Albany Regional is co-hosted by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and Siena College.
Sponsors of the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest include the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association, SEFCU, Saratoga Eagle, Dunkin’, AYCO, Northeastern Fine Jewelry, Hearts on Fire, Albany Capital Center, Total Events, ESPN 104.5 WTMM and NewsChannel 13.
For more information about the Women’s College Basketball Fan Fest, visit
www.AlbanyFanFest.com.
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) is in its 38
th year of competition during the 2018-19 academic year. Current Conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.