CHARLOTTE, N.C. \u2014 Queens University of Charlotte is stepping onto college basketball\u2019s biggest stage for the first time in program history, and local businesses say the excitement is spreading far beyond campus.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
Businesses in North Carolina are preparing for a boost of customers during the NCAA Tournament
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A Charlotte bar is excited to host a watch party as a Charlotte school makes its big debut in the tournament Friday
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The general manager shares how hosting the event fits into their longstanding tradition of supporting the school\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Royals are set to face second-seeded Purdue Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Division I men\u2019s basketball tournament, marking a historic milestone for the Charlotte university after completing its transition to full Division I eligibility in 2025.<\/p>\n
On campus, students, staff and alumni are rallying behind the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vibes have been really fun, and it\u2019s brought a lot of attention to the sport,\u201d one supporter said during the campus Royals sendoff celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That momentum is also driving crowds to nearby businesses, including Angry Ale\u2019s, a longtime restaurant and bar located about two miles from campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be busy, slammed,\u201d said Rich Lange, general manager of Angry Ale’s.<\/p>\n
Lange said the business, which has served the Queens community for over 20 years, is preparing for large crowds with a watch party<\/a> expected to draw students, alumni and fans.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will be bringing a lot of extra [staff] in,\u201d Lange said. \u201cIt’s always fun for the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n Staff are busy gearing up for the event, including food and beverages, to handle the anticipated turnout. \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got security on board as well, just looking out to make sure everybody\u2019s having fun and nothing gets out of hand,\u201d Lange said.<\/p>\n The watch party also carries a sense of nostalgia for many in the Queens community.<\/p>\n “For many Queens alumni, Angry Ale\u2019s was a staple of their college experience,\u201d said the Angry Ale’s staff in a statement. \u201cThis watch party brings those memories back to life, now centered around one of the biggest stages in college basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n Lange said the national spotlight on Queens is meaningful for both the university and surrounding neighborhood.<\/p>\n \u201cI heard somebody on TV when they first got announced, they didn\u2019t know where the school was, they thought it was in New York, somewhere,\u201d Lange said. \u201cSo I\u2019m just happy for them to get the national attention.\u201d<\/p>\n Other nearby businesses are also preparing for the surge in fans.<\/p>\n Jim Foster, owner of Selwyn<\/a> Pub and a Queens faculty member since 1982, said the restaurant expects a strong turnout. \u201c<\/p>\n \u201cWe are gearing up for the big game and are expecting an enthusiastic crowd to cheer on our \u2018Royals,\u2019\u201d Foster said in a statement.<\/p>\n With the increased activity, state officials are also urging fans to celebrate responsibly.<\/p>\n The North Carolina Governor\u2019s Highway Safety Program is running its \u201cBooze It & Lose It\u201d<\/a> campaign this week through Sunday, targeting impaired driving during St. Patrick\u2019s Day holiday period, which is also during the beginning of March Madness celebrations.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know that with that comes impairment,\u201d said Lindsay Poe, transportation safety communications officer with the program.\u00a0\u201cWe want people to have fun and to do so safely. Drivers can expect to have a visible increase in law enforcement this week. The goal is deterence, this is a high visibility campaign. We want people to see the law enforcement out and think [to] plan ahead.”<\/p>\n According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, law enforcement issued more than 700 DWI citations statewide during last year\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cOur message is simple: if you plan to drink, then plan accordingly for a sober ride home. Otherwise, you could face serious consequences,\u201d said GHSP Director Mark Ezzell in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n As tipoff approaches, business owners say the moment is bigger than just one game, it\u2019s a chance for Charlotte to rally around a team making history.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s important for the neighborhood to have Queens get elevated in this way,\u201d Lange said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Royals will face Purdue at 7:35 p.m. Friday in St. Louis.<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram at\u00a0spectrumnews1nc<\/a>\u00a0for news and other happenings across North Carolina.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n