CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Excitement filled the Bojangles Coliseum as the CIAA Tournament tipped off Tuesday morning.
Traffic will be heavy around the Bojangles Coliseum and the Spectrum Center uptown, with games, parties and entertainment through Saturday. Last year's tournament brought an estimated $47 million to Charlotte.
The CIAA Tournament is more than just basketball.
Hundreds of middle and high school students throughout the Carolinas will be there not only watching basketball but learning about opportunities in college.
Candace Butler is a teacher at Bruns Academy and was with 165 students from the school.
"The experience is wonderful,” Candace said. “I'm so glad that they brought it to Charlotte."
Her students attended the CIAA’s education day, where they heard a NASA engineer speak before game time.
"They're learning about life and just what college could be like once you start," Butler said.
The experience leaves a lasting impact on generations.
Warren Dobbins Sr. has been coming to the conference finals since high school. Dobbins said,
Dobbins watched the hundreds of children show up at the coliseum.
"I'm proud to see the many students coming out,” he said. “This is our future."
The CIAA Tournament has been in many cities over the decades, but it's in its 13th year in Charlotte. Dobbins drove two hours from Fayetteville to cheer on his alma mater, Fayetteville University. His granddaughter, Teara Johnson, is a freshman who plays in the tournament for Winston-Salem State University.
"So I'm here to support her also, so I wear two caps," Dobbins said.
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