Athletics

The Charlotte 49ers Basketball Madness event starts at 9 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 23, in Halton Arena. This annual celebration kicks off the basketball season, with fans getting the chance to meet the 2014-15 men’s and women’s squads. In addition, there will be skits and activities, dunking contests and more.The first 400 fans in attendance will receive a free 49ers rally towel to use at home games; admission to Charlotte 49ers Basketball Madness is free and open to the public.

The Charlotte 49ers will play at the University of Kentucky, a member of the Southeastern Conference, during the 2015 season, which will be the team’s first as a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The game is slated for Nov. 21, 2015.The 49ers, whose football program has played the 2013 and 2014 seasons as an FCS Independent, will compete in Conference USA in 2015 with an opportunity to gain full FBS member status with bowl eligibility in 2016.

UNC Charlotte is one of four “large category” finalists for the 2014 Wells Fargo Green Awards for its zero-waste initiative in Richardson Stadium, and the public can vote for the winner.

The Wells Fargo Green Awards recognize member companies who have incorporated innovative, sustainable practices in the products they produce, the services they provide and within the culture of their company.

First was football, and starting in fall 2015 the UNC Charlotte Marching Band will take the field. UNC Charlotte alumni Vickie and Gene Johnson have been the driving force behind the band, and they are donating $2 million to support the endeavor.

The Charlotte 49ers football team is into its second season, which means for home games in Richardson Stadium, the focus is on zero waste.
Last year’s efforts resulted in new initiatives for 2014, according to Brad Green, director of catering and special services for Chartwells, the University’s contracted food vendor.

Stadium Journey Magazine recently ranked UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena No. 22 out of 351 venues for collegiate teams in Division 1 basketball.  
According to Stadium Journey Magazine, Halton Arena “makes for an interesting and unique atmosphere for home games and is a great addition to a school with a plethora of beautiful athletic facilities.”
The Dale F. Halton Arena is a 9,000-seat venue located inside the Barnhardt Student Activity Center.  It is home to the Charlotte 49ers men’s and women’s basketball teams and women’s volleyball. 

UNC Charlotte employees can take advantage of faculty/staff nights to watch upcoming contests in volleyball and soccer for free. Employees can get up to four free tickets; visit the Athletic Ticket Office outside the Barnhardt Student Activity Center between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with a valid UNC Charlotte ID to pick up tickets.
Faculty/staff night for volleyball against UAB is Friday, Sept. 26; for women’s soccer against Marshall, it is Friday, Oct. 3; and for men’s soccer against Louisiana Tech, it is Friday, Oct. 24.

The UNC Charlotte Homecoming Committee is extending a special invitation to faculty and staff to participate in its second football Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally to be held on Friday, Oct. 24.  Any campus department or group  that would like to walk, drive or float in the parade should register online at the Homecoming website by Friday, Sept. 26.

NinerTech and the Charlotte 49ers are teaming up for a prize giveaway dubbed the “49th Minute Score.” UNC Charlotte students, faculty and staff can enter at NinerTech, located in the Student Union, for the chance to win a prize package and iPad mini during the 49ers men’s and women’s soccer season.
All names are entered into a drawing for the game-day giveaways. At every Charlotte 49ers men’s and womens’s soccer game, one lucky winner will receive a NinerTech prize package.

The first home football game is against Johnson C. Smith Saturday, and the Charlotte Area Transit  System (CATS) provides service to reach campus for the contest.
Route 11U North Tryon runs from the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown Charlotte to campus every 30 minutes starting at 6 a.m.; CATS also offers service along Sharon Amity and W.T. Harris on Route 29 every 45 minutes starting at 8:10 a.m.
The fare to ride the bus is $2.20 each way; exact change or a bus pass is required. Buses do not take debit/credit cards.