Skip to main content

Media Advisory: Coverage of NCAA Tournament-Related Activities at Duke

News media planning to cover the NCAA men's basketball Final Four and post-game activities on the Duke campus must have press credentials

News media planning to cover the NCAA men's basketball Final Four and post-game activities on the Duke University campus must have press credentials issued by the Duke Office of News & Communications. Media badges may be obtained from the Office of News & Communications, 615 Chapel Drive, starting on Wednesday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Also, news media should contact the Office of News & Communications about parking at all events.

The following is a schedule of events and guidelines for reporters and photographers:

Saturday, April 3, men's semi-final game against Connecticut:

A large-screen television will be set up inside Cameron Indoor Stadium and doors will open at 5:30 p.m. The first semi-final game, between Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech, is scheduled to start at 6:07 p.m.; the Duke-Connecticut game follows, with the tip-off time scheduled for 8:47 p.m.

Only Duke undergraduate, graduate and professional students with IDs will be admitted, and they should enter Cameron at the north end. There are no provisions for public viewing of the game on campus.

Working reporters with Duke credentials will be admitted at the entrance facing Wallace Wade Stadium. Television crews are asked not to shine lights while the game is in progress because it will disturb people's ability to watch. Lights are permitted before and after the game and when there is a stop in the action.

News media are not permitted in residential dorms at any time.

No permit for a bonfire has been obtained, and Duke police have asked that students refrain from starting one. The Durham Fire Marshal has stated that an unauthorized bonfire could jeopardize a permit for a bonfire Monday night.

Monday, April 5, men's final game (if necessary):

If the Duke men play in the championship game, only Duke undergraduate, graduate and professional students with IDs and credentialed media will again be admitted inside Cameron for large-screen viewing of the game; doors will open at 8 p.m. The game starts after 9. Guidelines for Saturday night will again apply.

If the Duke men lose in the semi-finals, the final game will not be shown in Cameron.

In the event the Duke men win the national championship, post-game festivities include the possibility of a bonfire in the main West Campus residential quadrangle. TV cameramen and newspaper photographers will not be allowed inside the 10-foot perimeter around the bonfire. Those who try to do so will be asked to leave.

All entrances to West Campus will be closed at 9 p.m. Only Duke students and employees with appropriate identification and news media with press badges will be permitted on campus. This is being done for the safety of students and employees.

There will be limited parking for TV trucks in the parking area at the top of Chapel Drive. TV cameramen should ask Duke police officers stationed at the top of Chapel Drive where they can park.

News service personnel on duty will be director David Jarmul (cell 612-4278), Radio-TV Services Manager Cabell Smith (page 970-2036) and associate director Keith Lawrence (page 970-9962).

Tuesday, April 6, men's welcome home:

A celebration welcoming home the men's basketball team will be held at Cameron at 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and parking is available in the lot on Whitford Drive across from the baseball field and along Frank Bassett Drive.