Market Square Madness is back for a third year to kick off the 2024-25 college basketball season.
The Tennessee men’s and women’s basketball teams will head downtown on Oct. 18 for the preseason fan event in Market Square. The festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m. with the Vols and Lady Vols walking the orange carpet after a performance from the Tennessee dance team.
Fans can arrive at 7 p.m. to take photos with Smokey and the Tennessee spirit squads, get faces painted and play on-court contests. After player introductions by DJ Sterl, the players will compete in various skills challenges with fan contests throughout the event.
Market Square Madness began in 2022, and it marked the return of Tennessee’s preseason basketball event after COVID. Rocky Top Tip-off was Tennessee’s fan event for three years before it was discontinued in 2020. UT opted to move the event from Food City Center to an outdoor court in Market Square.
Admission is free and fans are encouraged to park in the surrounding garages, which will also be free after 6 p.m.
CALDWELL PREGNANT: Lady Vols basketball coach Kim Caldwell shares news she’s pregnant
The Lady Vols will begin the season with a home exhibition game against Carson-Newman on Oct. 31, while the Vols start the season with a charity exhibition against Indiana on Oct. 27.
Cora Hall covers University of Tennessee women’s athletics. Email her at cora.hall@knoxnews.com and follow her on Twitter @corahalll. If you enjoy Cora’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that allows you to access all of it.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball: Vols fans event Market Square Madness date set
