For Immediate Release
Date: April 1st, 2008
Contact: Lt. Kevin Gunter

 

NCAA Final Four Notification 2008      

Plans are underway for this weekend’s NCAA basketball games and the street celebrations following UNC victories. History and tradition has shown that Franklin Street will be the focal point of any victory celebrations. The Town of Chapel Hill has plans to provide for the safety of revelers and for the protection of property. There are several ways that you can help make the celebration safer and more controlled. 

Streets will close if UNC wins and based on the crowd size. The area affected will be Franklin Street from Raleigh Street to Mallette Street; Columbia Street from Cameron Avenue to Rosemary Street. No vehicular traffic will be allowed in the closed area.  There will also be limited access to the residential areas immediately around the Central Business District. 

The following information is of special importance to merchants and property owners in the central business district. 

§         Parking meters on the 100 block of East Franklin Street, all of Henderson Street and North Columbia Street will be bagged for No Parking starting at 3:30 P.M. 

§         Vehicles parked on the 100 block of East Franklin Street, Henderson Street and North Columbia Street will be towed starting at 7:00 P.M. 

§         If your establishment sells paint, please restrict sale of CAROLINA blue paint for the next week. 

§         No alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the closed area. This restriction is authorized by a Town ordinance making it unlawful to possess alcoholic beverages on streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and alleys within the closed area.   

§         Discourage employees and customers, from parking in North Alley and South Alley.  When the streets close, vehicles parked in these alleys will not have access to the street to leave. 

§         If your establishment sells alcohol, please restrict all servings to paper or plastic cups and all bulk sales should be in cans so that we can keep glass out of the area. 

§         If your establishment has an awning or any removable signs, we recommend removing or securing them in order to keep them from being damaged. 

§         If possible, ensure that interior and exterior rooftop doors are secure to keep people off the roof.  

§         Many businesses keep extra staff on the premises during celebrations to prevent or report problems.  Make sure that the Orange County Communications Center (919) 933-2600 has an up-to-date emergency call back number. 

 

Special Instructions for Media 

The following pertains to both Saturday night and the final NCAA Championship to be played on Monday night should UNC advance: 

·        Limited first come first served parking for media trucks will be provided at the two downtown locations.  University Square beside the Suntrust Bank at 133 W. Franklin St. and Hill Hall on the campus of UNC located off of Cameron Ave. 

·        Media vehicles wishing to park at either location should make arrangements to be at these locations no later than 9:30pm.  Once the street is closed, media vehicles will not be permitted inside the closed area.  Once parked at either of the assigned areas, media vehicles will not be allowed to leave until after the celebration ends and the streets have been reopened.  

·        Lt. Kevin Gunter will be available for media updates at 10:30pm, 11:00pm and 12:00.  These updates will be held at the University Square media staging area.         

If you have any questions contact Officer Phil Smith at the Chapel Hill Police Department (919) 968-2760 Extension 134 or by e-mail at psmith@townofchapelhill.org