When you make your CIAA Tournament plans, make sure you bring someone who knows to throw off when you’ve already won the book. This is because the conference has partnered with PremiumSpades and this will add a competitive spades tournament to the CIAA 2020 Championship series.
below is a release from the CIAA
From theciaa.com :
PremiumSpades to produce competitive spades tournament February 28-29 At CIAA Basketball Tournament’s Fan Fest
CHARLOTTE, NC (September 27, 2019)—The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, (CIAA®), the nation’s first African American athletic conference and PremiumSpades today announced a partnership that will bring an officially sanctioned competitive spades tournament to the CIAA 2020 championship series – just in time for the conference’s 75th Anniversary basketball tournament .
The impetus for the addition of a spades tournament began as an April Fool’s Day social media spoof sent out by the conference office earlier this year. What came next was an influx of inquiries, calls and social media engagement that took the CIAA by surprise.
“The number of calls to our office was amazing. Families, friends and co-workers were ready to sign up immediately,” said Jacqie McWilliams, CIAA Commissioner. “Spades is part of the HBCU and African-American community across the country. As a former HBCU graduate, the game of spades was part of our recreational activities. There are not many family reunions or social gatherings without a competitive game of spades. We’re thrilled to bring more family-friendly fun to our 75th anniversary Fan Fest.”
The new event marks the first time the CIAA has offered a spades tournament challenge as part of the CIAA Basketball Championships. The competition is open to participants 18-years of age or older. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of $2,000.
“We are excited to partner with the CIAA to add our competitive spades tournament to the 2020 collegiate championship events” says Leroy Lasenburg, III, Founder of PremiumSpades. “Spades is an ultra-competitive game of wit and strategy and adds another level of excitement for fans of the CIAA tournaments.”
With more than 40 million players at home, online and mobile, Spades has seen a revitalization in American popular culture. As the CIAA’s partner, PremiumSpades will produce and manage the CIAA Spades Tournament Challenge, a winner-takes-all two-on-two tournament as part of the collegiate championship series. Additionally, PremiumSpades will bring the game of spades to a new generation of players while providing an exciting cultural experience that adds a new dynamic to the competitive collegiate spirit of the CIAA tradition.
The CIAA Spades Tournament Challenge will be held during the CIAA Toyota Fan Fest in the Charlotte Convention Center on February 28 -29th, 2019. To register, go to ciaatournament.org, via the CIAA Mobile app or visit www.premiumspades.com/ciaa.
Teams of two can register beginning September 28 with early registration pricing of $75 in honor of the 75th Anniversary celebration of the CIAA Tournament. Pricing will increase after December 1. The deadline to register is February 15, 2020. There will be a cap of 200 teams in the competition.
About PremiumSpades
PremiumSpades.com is the online destination for all things Spades including official game cards, scorebooks, gift box sets and tournament accessories. A wholly-owned division of the Spades Brand Gaming Company, PremiumSpades is a perfect blend of traditional gaming and the upscale social experience for one of America’s favorite pastimes.
About 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. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member-institutions: Bowie State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Saint Augustine’s University, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. Chowan University is an associate member in football and women’s bowling. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
