NCAA Div. II National Championships Festival

The Event:


Beginning May 13th, Houston will play host to the NCAA Division II National Championships Festival, with champions being crowned in Men’s and Women’s Golf, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Softball, and Women’s Lacrosse.  Opening Ceremonies will be held at Houston’s Downtown Aquarium.  Competition will be held at Memorial Park, a historic location just west of Downtown.  Closing ceremonies will be held May 17th at the Discovery Green Park in Downtown Houston.  Rice University is hosting the event in conjunction with the NCAA and the Harris County - Houston Sports Authority. 

For those fans coming in from out of town, please visit www.visithouston.com or www.houstondowntown.com/ for a list of dining and attractions.   

All student-athletes will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Houston on Louisiana Street in the heart of downtown.  There will be a transportation loop for student-athletes and fans staying in the downtown area from the Hilton Americas to the Hyatt Regency to Memorial Park every half hour. 

For all other fans, there will be parking at Delmar Stadium with shuttle service to and from the park.   
 

The Venues:

Memorial Park - Memorial Park is one of America’s largest urban park expanses, and is a well-loved getaway for Houstonians. Located a short hop west of downtown, the park offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Often referred to as one of the crown jewels in the Parks Department’s inventory, Memorial Park is rich in history as well as greenspace. Memorial Park is located at 6501 Memorial Drive, near the I-10 & I-610 West Loop intersection. Facilities for jogging, tennis, hiking, biking, picnicking, and wildlife- and people-watching are all readily available, and one of the city’s premiere golf courses is in Memorial Park.
                       

The Aquarium – The Downtown Aquarium is a six-acre entertainment and dining complex, home to over 200 species of aquatic life from around the globe.  The Diving Bell Ferris Wheel offers a magnificent view of the Downtown Houston Skyline.  Opening Ceremonies will be held at the facility on May 13th, from 7pm to 9pm.  Transportation will be available from the Hyatt Regency for all athletes.  

Discovery Green – Discovery Green, a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston, opens April 13, 2008. With its proximity to the George R. Brown Convention Center, Minute Maid Park and Toyota Center, Discovery Green is an ideal location for the city's newest attraction.  Closing ceremonies will be held in this prestigious park at 7:30pm on May 17th.   Transportation will be available from the Hyatt Regency for all athletes.   Special entertainment and exciting events have been planned to close out the week of competition.  A night you won’t want to miss!

                              

NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS FESTIVAL

Tentative Schedule of Events 
Tuesday (May 13, 2008)
Women’s Golf First Round………………………..…………. 8:00 am – 2pm
Opening Ceremonies………………………………..……….. 7 pm – 9 pm
Wednesday (May 14, 2008)
NCAA Interactive Festival …………………...…………….... 11am – 7 pm
Men’s Golf First Round…………………………..........…….. 7:30 am – 6 pm
Women’s Tennis First Round…….…………..................... 8 & 10:30am
Men’s Tennis First Round…….…………........................ 1:30pm & 4pm
Women’s Golf Second Round………………………..……... 10 am – 4 pm
Softball First Round………………………………….…..…... 10 a.m. – 8 pm
Game 1 ………………………………….10 am
Game 2 ……………………………….12:30 pm
Game 3 …………………………………. 3 pm
Game 4 ………………………………. 5:30 pm
Thursday (May 15, 2008)
NCAA Interactive Festival ………..…………………………. 11am – 7 pm
Men’s Golf Second Round…………………..………...…..… 7:30 am – 6 pm
Women’s Golf Third Round……..…..………...……........... 10 am – 4 pm
Women’s Lacrosse Semifinals……………….…………..... 11:30 am & 1:30 pm
Women’s Tennis Quarterfinals………........….................. 9am
Men’s Tennis Quarterfinals………........…....................... 1pm
Softball Second Round……………………………….……... 10 a.m. – 8 pm
Game 5 …………………..……….……….10 am
Game 6 …………………………..…….12:30 pm
Game 7 …………………..…………………3 pm
Game 8 …………………..……….……. 5:30 pm
Friday (May 16, 2008)
NCAA Interactive Festival … ………………………………... 11am – 7 pm
Men’s Golf Third Round………………………………….….... 7:30 am – 6 pm
Women’s Golf Championship Round………………....……. 8 am – 3 pm
Women’s Tennis Semifinals……………..……..…............. 9am
Men’s Tennis Semifinals……………..……....................… 1pm
Softball Quarterfinals Round…………...……………..…..... 10 a.m. – 8 pm
Game 9 ………………………..….……….10 am
Game 10 ……………………………….12:30 pm
Game 11 ………………………..….……….3 pm
Game 12 ……………………..………….5:30 pm
Saturday (May 17, 2008)
NCAA Interactive Festival … ……………………...………... 11am – 7 pm
Men’s Golf Final Round…………………………..….……….. 7:30 am – 6 pm
Women’s Lacrosse Finals……………………….…….……... 1pm
Women’s Tennis Finals…….........……………................… 9am
Men’s Tennis Finals…….........……………..…................... 1pm
Softball Semifinals/Finals Round………………...………… 10 a.m. – 7 pm
Game 13 ……………………………….10 am or 12:30 pm (if necessary)
Game 14………………………………..12:30 pm (if necessary)
Championship Game…………………….3:30 pm
Closing Ceremony………..…………………..………………… 7:30 pm