Oct. 10, 2002

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Only a few hundred tickets for Friday night's Midnight Madness festivities at Comcast Center (Oct. 11) remain available to the general public. The annual opening to the college basketball season, Midnight Madness at the University of Maryland this week also marks the first public event at the University's 17,950-seat Comcast Center.

On the heels of a national championship last April, the defending champion Terrapin men's basketball team will open the 2002-03 season alongside the Terps' women's team at midnight on Oct. 12. Midnight Madness activities on the arena floor begin at 10:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, with Comcast Center doors opening at 7:30.

Maryland coach Gary Williams and veteran Terps' broadcaster Johnny Holliday, each of whom has released an autobiography book this fall, will conduct a book-signing event in the main lobby above the Terrapin Team Shop at Comcast Center, beginning at approximately 9 p.m.

Admission is free, but for the first time in Maryland history, Midnight Madness has become a ticketed event in order to meet the joint demands brought by the national title and the opening of the new arena. Maryland students may obtain advance tickets online by accessing www.tickets.umd.edu. Advance tickets for the general public are available online or at any TicketMaster outlet, or at the Terrapin ticket office at Comcast Center.