The Fresh Coast Basketball Classic is slated for this weekend at U.S. Cellular Arena.
The tournament, which brings four historically black colleges and universities to Milwaukee for a basketball tournament and other family / community events, is in its second year.
In advance of the event -- which this year features Central State University, Elizabeth City State University, Talladega College and Morehouse College -- OnMilwaukee.com chatted via e-mail with tournament CEO Synovia Youngblood.
OnMilwaukee.com: This is the second year for the FCC. Are there are any notable changes to the setup?
Synovia Youngblood: Games will take place at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily with a special halftime show by David Banner. The weekend includes a college fair, alumni hall, gaming competition, comedy show and evening event. The FCBC is presented by Harley-Davidson, Potawatomi Bingo Casino and several other corporate partners to bring a fun, family event to Milwaukee attracting diverse visitors and duplicating the success of other HBCU sporting events around the country.
OMC: What are some of the "off the court" highlights of the event?
SY: With a focus on education, family, and community, there is something for everyone. On Friday, the Classic will feature a college fair with representatives and information from over 30 colleges and universities.
The College Fair is free and open to the public. The first 500 students will receive a free $10 game ticket. Everyone is excited to see the halftime show of David Banner, an innovative voice for the new generation. Banner is a hip-hop artist with a message of the importance of education as he, himself, is a graduate of a HBCU.
Got Game? One of the new features of the Classic is our partnership with the Midwest Gaming Classic. We will run a round-robin tournament of Guitar Hero 3 with the two finalists going head-to-head on the main stage at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
Additional highlights of the Classic include the Official College Afterparty on Friday night, a comedy show featuring Doug Williams, host of the "Martin Lawrence 1st Amendment Comedy Show," and friends on Saturday night, followed by the Official Afterparty with the North / Lincoln Alumni and Friends.
OMC: How was the turnout at the events last year? Is the recent economic downturn having an impact on how many people are expected to travel with the teams?
SY: The inaugural year events in 2008 drew approximately 5,000 people over the weekend, showcasing Milwaukee and the Classic as a great destination and unique event.
The FCBC is one of a very few basketball Classics in the country. This year, we are working to double the attendance to 10,000 attendees for all the events. We have partnered with Wisconsin State Tourism, Visit Milwaukee and media partners in Milwaukee and Chicago. We are working with the Alumni Associations of the participating schools to bring their team's excitement to a growing Classic in our beautiful city. We are expecting guests from North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama, Georgia and throughout the Midwest region.
OMC: How was the event received by participating schools last year in terms of recruiting and exposure in this market?
SY: We have received a tremendous response from participating schools appreciative to have a first class experience at the Fresh Coast Basketball Classic. The FCBC affords the schools both exposure to their academic and athletic programs and students have taken advantage of both. Interest in attending the participating schools is growing. Currently, we are now receiving interest from several teams for both 2009 and 2010.
OMC: The final few minutes of the championship game last year were marred by a fight between two players that spilled into the stands. How much of a cloud did that cast over an otherwise successful weekend? Was that just "one of those things," or are there any steps that can be taken to make sure that it doesn't happen again?
SY: The colorful analysis of two players vying for the basketball and spilling into the stands was two players falling over chairs, not people. First and foremost, the FCBC is a competition and all of the teams come to win, so you are going to see great college basketball with the same intensity at any NCAA or NBA game. The FCBC is a fun, family event that showcases four dynamic basketball teams seeking to take home the FCBC Crystal Championship trophy.
