March Madness is making its way to Asheville this weekend. From Thursday-Monday (March 5-9), the Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championships presented by General Shale are tipping off at Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville (formerly the U.S. Cellular Center). 🏀

What’s at stake:

The winning team will punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Who will join them?

How to get tickets:

Ticket packages and single-session tickets are still available, including options like:

General Admission Tournament Book: $120
General Admission Single Session: $20
Youth (6-12) / SoCon Student Single Session: $10
And more.

Where to stay:

If you have family coming into town or want to make a #staycation out of it, several AVL hotels – like Hyatt Place + Cambria Downtown Asheville – are offering discount fan rates.

What’s going on:

There’s a full schedule of events to keep fans busy on + off the court, like:

The Ingles SoCon Fan Experience | Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday + Sunday at 11 a.m. + Monday at 6 p.m. | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | Free for ticket holders | Running until the final buzzer each day, ft. basketball-themed activities, a big screen gaming area + more.
Downtown Dribble & Kids Fest presented by Champion Credit Union | Sat, March 7 | 9-11:30 a.m. | Pack Square | Free | Cheerleaders, bands, games for kids, mascots + more. Kids participating in Downtown Dribble contest will receive a free t-shirt + basketball, plus free admission to the men’s quarterfinal session at noon.
Hometown Heroes Night | Mon, March 9 | 7 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | Honoring members of the military, fire, police, emergency + medical services, charitable organizations, government + civil service at the men's championship game.

Ways to give back:

Hoops Against Hunger | Throughout tournament | Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville concourse + at all host hotels | Bins will be available to donate food like canned goods, peanut butter + cereal during the tournament.
SoCon Teddy Bear Toss | Sun, March 8 | 4 p.m. | Harrah’s Cherokee Center Asheville | Make a donation to the Mountain Child Advocacy Center + receive a stuffed teddy bear to throw on the court during the 2020 Mission Children's Hospital Teddy Bear Toss. Ⓟ