The roar of a Brock Badgers crowd will soon return to downtown St. Catharines as the University’s banner basketball event takes over the Meridian Centre.

Paint the Meridian Red will see the Brock men’s and women’s basketball teams host the McMaster Marauders for the second consecutive year, with back-to-back games on Friday, Jan. 17.

The women’s game will kick off the night with tip-off at 6 p.m. followed by the men at 8 p.m.

Tickets are now available at ticketmaster.ca

This will be the first Paint the Meridian Red experience for Courtney Smith, Brock Sports and Recreation Associate Director of Athletics, who joined the University in September.

“People rave about the atmosphere at Brock’s Meridian Centre events, with the crowd bringing an unmatched energy that makes for an unforgettable night for student-athletes and fans alike,” she said. “I can’t wait to experience it first-hand, and to be a part of the sea of red cheering our Brock Badgers on. The Paint the Meridian Red event is more than just basketball; it’s a celebration of school spirit, pride and tradition.”

Brock women’s basketball head coach Shae Dheensaw will also experience the bright lights of a Paint the Meridian Red game for the first time since taking the reins in June.

“The Niagara region and the local community provide Brock student-athletes so many unique opportunities, and Paint the Meridian is a perfect example of this,” she said. “We constantly talk about ways to provide an elite student-athlete experience. Playing in an arena full of supporters takes that experience to another level that sets us apart from our competitors.”

Men’s basketball head coach Willy Manigat, who will be at the helm for his third Paint the Meridian Red game, said the event has the potential to impact the future of basketball in the region.

“It’s always fun to host an event as big as Paint the Meridian Red in front of our home fans. It’s great for not only the Brock community but also for the Niagara community to come and see the hard work of our student-athletes and staff,” he said. “It’s also a way for us to grow basketball in the region, showing young basketball players what university basketball is like so they can aspire to play at this level.”

Fans can expect a community zone with family-friendly activities such as face painting and games. Students will get free transportation to and from campus included with the purchase of their ticket.