ALBANY, NY - As many as 330 college wrestlers representing some 80 schools will grapple their way into the Capital Region when Albany hosts the sold-out 2002 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 21 - 23 at the Pepsi Arena. In conjunction with college wrestling's premier event, an all-inclusive, three-day fan festival featuring food, live music, interactive games, and more will take place in front of the arena, providing entertainment for the more than 15-thousand fans descending on downtown Albany.

   Fan Fest 2002 will take place inside an enclosed, heated tent stretching from Beaver to Hudson on South Pearl, outside the Pepsi Arena. The wrestling championships are divided into six sessions - two per day - over the three-day period. The fan fest will get underway each day about an hour and a half prior to the start of the morning session, and will remain open well into the night, until approximately one hour after the conclusion of the evening session. Admission to the fan fest tent is free.

   Fan Fest 2002 serves a dual role. It offers fans without tickets the opportunity to experience the frenzied atmosphere of college wrestling's premier event, and will also serve as a convenient gathering point for those who'll be attending the tournament.

   Fan Fest 2002 will officially get underway on Thursday, March 21 at 9:30 a.m. Fan Fest attractions include:

• A food court featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, gyros, fried dough, ice cream, frozen yogurt, coffee, bagels and much, much more. Vendors will be open for business throughout the day and evening.
• A wide array of interactive entertainment including such virtual reality favorites as a flight and racecar simulator, foosball, air hockey, and video game wall. The virtual reality entertainment is provided by Amusitronix. Fans will also have the opportunity to have a digitally enhanced photograph taken of them as a wrestler.
• Fans will have the chance to meet Niskayuna native and 1984 Olympic wrestling gold medallist Jeff Blatnick. Jeff will provide analysis and color commentary for ESPN, which will televise the championship round on Saturday. Fans can catch the broadcast of "March Mat-ness" on a large screen television inside the tent.
• A 37-foot RV with a video featuring highlights from the careers of 1996 Olympic wrestling gold medallist Kendall Cross and 2000 Olympic wrestling gold medallist Brandon Slay.
• Autograph signing sessions with Jeff Blatnick (Springfield College), Kendall Cross (Oklahoma State University), Brandon Slay (University of Pennsylvania) and others from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
• In addition to "March Mat-ness," March Madness will be broadcast from Fan Fest central, featuring live coverage of the men's college basketball tournament. The regional rounds of the road to the Final Four will be broadcast beginning on Thursday night, and during breaks in the wrestling action throughout the weekend.
• Fan Fest 2002 will feature a mix of the Capital Region's best bands - from the hot sounds of the Burners UK to the country tunes of the New York Players to country recording artist Valerie Delacruz - who will perform live on stage inside the tent.
• Strolling entertainment each day of the Fan Fest, including jugglers and magicians.
• A wide array of NCAA merchandise will be available for purchase.

   Access to Fan Fest 2002 will be easier than ever thanks to a special Fan Pass, available for purchase through the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). The pass provides unlimited transportation the entire weekend aboard buses that will operate between hotels on Wolf Road, Washington Avenue and the Pepsi Arena. Fans can also use it to park at a park & ride lot in Rensselaer and board buses to the arena.

   The Fan Pass also "delivers" added value by providing discounts at a long list of area merchants. The Fan Pass is only $15 and can be purchased by calling CDTA at (518) 482-3371, or online at www.cdta.org.

   Hours for Fan Fest 2002 are Thursday, March 21 from 9:30 a.m. - midnight; Friday, March 22 from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.; and Saturday, March 23 from 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission to the tent, including all entertainment, is free. Food and NCAA merchandise are available for purchase.