GREENSBORO -- For years people would take Friday off to attend or watch the ACC tournament, but the later start for the games this year brought some changes.
Attorney Jim Weeks is a double Tar Heel.
"I graduated '63, undergraduate school, worked 10 years, then went back to law school in '73,’’ the Greensboro attorney said, while eating lunch at his favorite bar, Stumble Stiltskins.
He remembers the days of taking Friday off work to watch tournament games, that started at noon for the past few decades.
“They moved it back one day, which is strange, 'cause the championship's on Saturday, not Sunday,’’ he said.
Business would be booming in bars.
"People be piling up at 11:45 to get those restaurants and bars filled up and have a great time throughout the evening,” said bar owner Chris Flathers.
This year the tournament started on Tuesday, to finish with a prime-time championship game on TV Saturday night.
This year Friday games were slotted to start at 7:00 p.m.
Flathers said it’s a usual Friday lunch crowd at Stumble Stilkins, with some out-of-town visitors mixed in.
"I've got a couple with really nothing to do until 7:00,” said Flathers. "They're going to get their game and lunch going on early."
When the tourney heads north to Washington next year, fans will still be out watching.
"People want to come out and be part of it. It's part of who we are in North Carolina,’’ said Flathers.
It's part of the ACC tradition in Tobacco Road.
"Most of the judges understand we Tar Heels need to go to the coliseum, not the courthouse on Thursday, Friday, Saturday," said Weeks.
The championship game’s schedule for Saturday is at 8:30 p.m.