UAlbany's SEFCU Arena Chosen to Host the 2014 America East Conference Men's & Women's Basketball Championship

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Already set to host the 2013 America East Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship, University at Albany’s SEFCU Arena has been chosen as the site for the 2014 tournament. The conference’s Athletic Directors voted to keep the championship in Albany for 2014 on Wednesday. “Based on early ticket sales, the response from sponsors and potential media partners, as well as the growing excitement for the 2013 championship, it was an easy decision yesterday for our membership to commit to returning to Albany for our 2014 championship,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. The 2014 America East Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships will be held during the first full week of March in 2014 at SEFCU Arena, Albany’s 4,538-seat on-campus facility. Early round action for both the men and women will be held at the combined tournament, while the title games will again both be held the following weekend at the site of the highest remaining seeds. “We are ecstatic that the University at Albany will be hosting this championship in both 2013 and 2014,” said Albany Vice President & Director of Athletics Lee McElroy. “The excitement that is building on our campus, in the Capital Region and in other markets across America East’s footprint for the 2013 championship motivated the membership to act on this now and we are thrilled they have. It will allow us to build on what we expect to be a first-class tournament for America East, its schools, student-athletes and fans, as well as the Capital Region, and make it even better for 2014.” Nearly $15,000 worth of all-session packages for the 2013 championship has already been sold. In addition, America East and Albany jointly announced that SEFCU will serve at the presenting sponsor for the 2013 championship. “The basketball championship is our signature event every year and committing to the same venue for consecutive years now opens endless possibilities to enhance the tournament experience for everyone involved,” continued Huchthausen. “The University at Albany and the Capital District have embraced this event with open arms and we look forward to outstanding tournaments each of the next two years.” This year’s tournament, which will be presented by SEFCU, will begin on Friday, March 8 with women’s quarterfinal action. The men’s quarterfinals are scheduled for Saturday, March 9 and both the men’s and women’s semifinal tilts will take place Sunday, March 10. The highest seeds remaining in both the men’s and women’s tournament will host the championship games with the men’s title game on Saturday, March 16 and the women’s final tentatively set for that same day. While 2013 will be the first time SEFCU Arena hosts the conference’s combined championship, the building is no stranger towards hosting America East Championships. The building, which, opened in the spring of 1992 as an $11 million state-of-the-art facility, hosted the 2009 Men’s Basketball Championship and drew nearly 15,000 fans, the second-most since 2002. SEFCU Arena, formerly the Recreation & Convocation Center, also hosted the 2006 men’s championship game, as well as the 2012 women’s championship game, which drew more fans than any league title contest since 2006. All-session packages for the 2013 America East Men’s & Women’s Basketball Championship presented by SEFCU are already on sale and can be obtained online or by calling the University at Albany ticket office at 518-442-DANE (3263). Fans can also visit Championship Central for more tournament information. About the America East Conference Now in its fourth decade of operation, the America East Conference has evolved into one of the most comprehensive NCAA Division I conferences in the country with a commitment to broad-based, competitive athletics programs, complementing the academic integrity and missions of the member institutions. Progressive in its approach to its more than 3,400 student-athletes, America East recognizes champions in each of its 20 sports. America East also conducts the nation’s most comprehensive academic recognition program for student-athletes and collaborates on several community service initiatives throughout its geographic footprint each year. With members spanning from the Mid-Atlantic to Northeast regions of the United States, America East strives to develop champions in academics, athletics and leadership at its nine member institutions: University at Albany, Binghamton University, Boston University, University of Hartford, University of Maine, UMBC, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook University and University of Vermont.