The biggest night in Ball State Sports, The #Chirpies, returns Monday, April 24 at Worthen Arena featuring live performances from King Calaway, one of Billboard Music’s Artists to Watch in 2023.
The 7 p.m. celebration recognizes outstanding student-athlete accomplishments and performances from the previous year. Admission is free.
The #Chirpies, modeled after the ESPYs at ESPN, saw 53 athletes or teams nominated for 18 awards, including Comeback Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Groundbreaking Performance and more.
Organized and presented by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and sponsored by Ball State’s Office of the President, Ball State Athletics and Ball State Sports Link, the event welcomes several new sponsors this year to make this a night to remember.
Red carpet arrivals begin at 5:30 p.m, while King Calaway, takes the Worthen Arena stage at 7 p.m.
Ball State’s “Voice of the Cardinals” Mick Tidrow and Sports Link senior student Madison Surface are the hosts, while members of SAAC and special guests will present the awards.
ESPN SportsCenter anchor John Anderson will join the show from the ESPN studios in Bristol, while Sports Link alum and ESPN play-by-play announcer Connor Onion, will be on site to present the Comeback Athletes of the Year.
The entire event can be followed on social media by following #Chirpies.
Event Information
WHEN: Monday, April 24, 2023
WHERE: Worthen Arena on the campus of Ball State University
TIME: 7 p.m. (please be seated by 6:45 for the live television production)
TICKETS: Admission is FREE with general admission seating. No ticket is needed. The event is open to students, alumni, faculty, staff, fans and the Muncie Community at large.
RESERVED SEATING: Student-athletes, coaches, families and VIPs will have sections reserved for seating as this is an awards show honoring the student-athletes.
VICTORY HONDA & BLAKE FM TICKET WINNERS: Reserved seating for non-athletes is only available for winners through Victory Honda of Muncie and Blake FM. Those tickets can be picked up at lower level Gate One near the Will Call window at Worthen Arena on event night starting at 6 p.m.
PARKING: Is available after 5 p.m. at the lots near Worthen Arena. All guests enter Lower Level Gate 1.
The #Chirpies Glass Winners Trophy, sponsored by the Cardinal Varsity Club
A new designer glass winners trophy will be awarded to 16 recipients during the awards show, sponsored by Ball State’s Cardinal Varsity Club. For over 60 years now, the CVC has brought together alumni and friends of Ball State to collectively invest in student-athletes who value excellence, integrity, and service.
The Red Carpet Experience, presented by Ball State CCIM
The #Chirpies Red Carpet Experience, sponsored by the College of Communication, Information, and Media features student-athletes and VIPs walking the red carpet with a 360 photo booth, multiple photo stations, #Chirpies Cardinal Corn from A Team Concessions and much more. Sports Link will stream the entire red carpet experience live with Hudson French and Hadassah Harris hosting.
The #Chirpies Afterparty, presented by Feed The Bird Foundation
New this year is the official #Chirpies Afterparty for student-athletes on the red carpet. Sponsored by Feed The Bird Foundation and catered by Roots Burger Bar, the #Chirpies Afterparty will feature a non-alcoholic champagne, plus burgers, wings, tater tots and more from Roots.
About King Calaway
Named as one of the seven new Country acts to watch out for by Billboard, King Calaway has been taking the Country music industry by storm ever since their 2019 debut album, Rivers. Performing on national TV shows such as Jimmy Kimmel, The Late Late Show with James Corden, TODAY, The Kelly Clarkson Show andthe internationally acclaimed show Neighbours to making their Grand Ole Opry debut, the band has opened for Country music icon Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Lainey Wilson, Gabby Barrett and Scotty McCreery. The band’s 2021 EP, Midnight, ushered in their more organic harmonious California Country sound that featured “hooky songs with infectious melodies and big, harmony-rich choruses” (People). Most recently, the “rising Country band” (Country Now) joined forces with the award-winning Zac Brown as their producer on brand new music, including “When I Get Home” that the guys performed with Zac Brown at Nissan Stadium during last year’s CMA Fest as well as the high-energy track “I’m Feelin’ Good (Steve Miller Band).” Having just wrapped 2022 tours with both Blanco Brown and Dustin Lynch, the band will hit the road with Zac Brown Band in 2023 and will release even more Zac Brown-produced new music early this year. For more information, visit: https://www.kingcalaway.com.
