Coming To America Night At St.John's This Saturday

 

This Saturday, when St. John's takes on Delaware this Saturday evening, it will be Coming to America Night at Carnesecca Arena.

It will be held on the anniversary of when Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall filmed a scene for the iconic Queens-based movie, as they took in a St. John's game against Marist at Madison Square Garden on December 28, 1987.

It is the first event organized by clict, a company that merges collectibles, culture, community engagement and journalism whose founder is long-time sports business writer Darren Rovell, in its role as Official Collectibles Partner of Red Storm Athletics.

In arena activities during the game, of which a night like this is a first for St. John's, include movie trivia and music, contests and games with 1987-themed prizes, an exclusive exhibit featuring an authentic McDowell's uniform, an ode to where Prince Akeem and Semmi went to work; and custom merchandise such as a specially-designed "In the Face" t-shirt, referencing one of the movie's most iconic lines.

There also is a #FINDTHETICKET campaign, an effort to locate and recover physical tickets from the game in 1987. St. John's and clict will offer a reward of $1,000 for the top three highest-quality original tickets. 

To submit your ticket for authenticity, email a photo of the front and back to biz#clict.com, or bring the physical ticket if you're attending Saturday's game.

Fans are also encouraged to share their memories and discoveries from that night at The Garden on social media using the #FINDTHETICKET hashtag on social media platforms.

St. John's Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed Kull said in a statement, "St. John's Athletics continues to innovate and lead, celebrating our history while looking ahead to the future. Partnering with clict, the leader of this movement, allows us to connect our fans, alumni, and community in new and exciting ways, harnessing the power of collectibles to preserve our stories and build deeper relationships."

There will also be the release of a Carnesecca Legacy Collection, in honor of St. John's winningest head coach, Lou Carnesecca, who recently passed away on November 30 at the age of 99.

It will feature collaborations with current St. John's Head Coach Rick Pitino, who wore a replica sweater as a tribute to Carnesecca during their December 7 win over Kansas State. (pictured below)

Photo by Jason Schott.

The limited-edition collection will include trading cards of Carnesecca and Pitino, sweater cards with textured holofoil, a one of one sweater auto booklet with autographs from the two coaches, and a Carnesecca refractor cord.

Rovell said in a statement, "This collaboration sets a new standard for how collectibles can celebrate the past while paving the way for future fan engagement. By honoring iconic moments like Lou Carnesecca's legacy and the cultural significance of Coming to America, we're redefining the role of collectibles in collegiate sports and culture."