2022 CIAA Basketball Tournament to Tip-Off Week-Long Celebration with Community Events

Courtesy of The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association,

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically Black athletic conference, tips off its tournament week beginning February 22, 2022 with a week-long celebration featuring community events that offer something fun and exciting for every fan. Leading into the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournament, the week will feature a combination of in-person and virtual events including annual staple events such as Fan Fest, High School Education Day, CIAA Career Expo, Super Saturday, The 6th Annual Samaritan’s Feet “Shoes of Hope” initiative, The John B. McClendon Jr. CIAA Hall of Fame Breakfast, and other exciting events.

The CIAA is partnering with Visit Baltimore to offer meaningful off-the-court educational programming for the community and student-athletes focusing on topics including wellness, mental health, and women in sports. Over 1,500 students across the country are expected to attend the virtual CIAA High School Education Day, one of the conference’s staple events of tournament week. Additionally, there will be a series of town halls and symposiums offered including 2022 Tech Summit House, Money Moves Financial Summit, Diversity & Inclusion Townhall Forum, CIAA Men’s & Women’s Student-Athlete Symposium, Wellness & Mental Health Panel Discussion, and more. Another plus will be a Youth Sports Clinic hosted by Visit Baltimore that features former NBA and Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Bobby Dandridge – both CIAA graduates.

Fans will also enjoy the annual entertainment events happening during Tournament week such as the CIAA Old School Jam & Skate Party, CIAA Step Shows, CIAA Comedy Show and others. Artists confirmed to perform include The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Legendary DJ Kool, Big Daddy Kane, YoYo, Monie Luv, Rakim and Michel’le.

Safety Protocols

To ensure that all appropriate COVID-19 health and safety protocols are being addressed, the following safety plan and guidelines* will be in effect throughout Tournament week:

Patrons at the CIAA Basketball Tournament will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings for all games at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland.
Vaccinations are recommended but not required.
Those attending any official ancillary events during CIAA Tournament Week will be REQUIRED to wear face coverings.
Proof of vaccination and/or negative COVID test results will be required at select private (Invitation-Only) events.

*Guidelines and Protocols are subject to change at any given time due to recommendations provided by the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, Center for Disease Control (CDC), NCAA Sports Science Institute, and the CIAA Athletic Trainers Association. Please check back periodically at the 2022 CIAA Basketball Tournament COVID 19 Guidelines and Protocols website for updates.

For more information about the CIAA, visit TheCIAA.com. You can also like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and on Twitch. To get the latest updates on the CIAA Tournament or to sign up for the CIAA Newsletter, visit CIAATournament.org.

About the CIAA

Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. In 2020, the conference celebrates the special 75th anniversary of its Championship Basketball Tournament – an event that has become a must-see in the African American community. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.