Local Big Hoopla events usher in First Four men's basketball games Published March 8, 2019 By Mark C. Lyle 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – The NCAA® First Four ®Division I Men’s Basketball Championship games held at the University of Dayton Arena are in two weeks. Leading up to the Championship games are several events. Begin March 17 with The Big Hoopla Four Miler race, in its’ new location at the Carillon Historical Park. Check-in and Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Carillon Historical Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, Ohio. The race will follow at 10 a. m. You can pre-register at www.daytonhoopla.com. The Big Hoopla and Key Sports have teamed up to provide all Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employees with a 20 percent military discount if you use promo code: WPAFB20. All pre-registered runners will receive a t-shirt and all participants receive a medal. The four-mile course will start and finish at the Carillon Historical Park and a post-race celebration will follow at Carillon. The second event on March 17 is the Big Hoopla STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Challenge at Chaminade-Julienne High School, now in its 6th year. This free basketball ‘hot-shot’ and educational event is open to boys and girls, in grades kindergarten thru eighth. Check-in will begin at noon. Pre-registration is encouraged and now open at www.daytonhoopla.com. The STEM Challenge combines the excitement of March Madness with the power and education of STEM. Free pizza Hoopla T-Shirts, First Four tickets and many other prizes will be given away. Regional and national partners will be on-site to engage students with hands-on STEM exhibits, including Wright-Patterson Education & Outreach, Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology, 88th Air Base Wing, the Boonshoft Museum, and others. On March 18 there will be NCAA First Four Open Practices at the UD Arena from 5 to 8 p.m. and on March 19 from noon to 3 p.m. Come and watch the teams practice at this free event that is open to the public. Parking is free. March 19-20 is the NCAA Division Men’s Basketball Championship First Four Games at the UD Arena. The games begin at 6:30 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. on both days. (Tip off times subject to change) Last year the Big Hoopla ticket program donated more than 8,000 tickets to active-duty Airmen and their families to recognize and show appreciation for the United States Air Force and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Wright-Patt will provide am Honor Guard, National Anthem singer, new recruit swear-in, and more for this event. According to The Big Hoopa committee Dayton Ohio is rapidly becoming the epicenter of college basketball. For more information on pre-game events visit www.DaytonHoopla.com. For the latest updates with the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament visit NCAA.com. --------------------------------------------------- - March 17- Hoopla Four Miler at the Carillon Historical Park. Check-in and Registration begins at 9 a.m. - March 17 - Hoopla STEM Challenge at Chaminade-Julienne High School, 12pm check-in - March 18 - NCAA First Four Open Practices at the UD Arena from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and March 13 from noon to 3 p.m. - March 19-20 - NCAA Division Men’s Basketball Championship First Four Games at UD Arena starting at 6:30 p.m. and 9:10 p.m.