{"id":33223,"date":"2026-03-18T12:38:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T17:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/?p=33223"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:38:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T17:38:30","slug":"eastern-illinois-university-rhythm-blues-spring-fling-april-18","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/sports\/more-sports\/33223-eastern-illinois-university-rhythm-blues-spring-fling-april-18\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Illinois University Rhythm &#038; Blues Spring Fling April 18"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pdfprnt-buttons pdfprnt-buttons-post pdfprnt-top-right\"><a href=\"javascript: window.print()\" class=\"pdfprnt-button pdfprnt-button-print\" target=\"_self\" ><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thexradio.com\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-print\/images\/print.png\" alt=\"image_print\" title=\"Print Content\" \/><span class=\"pdfprnt-button-title pdfprnt-button-print-title\">Print<\/span><\/a><\/div><p>Join Eastern Illinois University for an unforgettable evening in Groniger Arena of entertainment, dining, and philanthropy at the 2026 EIU Rhythm &amp; Blues Spring Fling, a premier Panther Club event benefiting Eastern Illinois University student-athletes. The Spring Fling will be held Saturday, April 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Groniger Arena.<\/p>\n<p>This high-energy celebration brings together alumni, donors, community leaders, and Panther fans for a night that makes a meaningful impact for our student-athletes and department as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Secure your ticket or table at one of EIU Athletics&#8217; most anticipated events of the year. Guests will enjoy entertainment, a curated buffet-style dining experience, exclusive silent and live auction opportunities and experiences, and a vibrant atmosphere all in support of EIU student-athletes. Tickets are $100 each or get your closest friends together and purchase a table of eight for $700.<\/p>\n<p>Skip the line and toast the night. Add drink tickets to your ticket, table, or sponsorship purchase. Each drink ticket is $5 and will be conveniently included in your registration packet with bid paddle and auction item booklet.<\/p>\n<p>Sponsorship Opportunities Available<\/p>\n<p>Elevate your brand while supporting a great cause. Event sponsorship offers visibility with a passionate audience of EIU supporters and meaningful recognition throughout the event.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Silent &amp; Live Auction Donations<\/p>\n<p>The Spring Fling will feature both silent and live auction items, and we are seeking unique, high-quality items to create an exciting guest experience. (We will update this site with item information as silent and live auction items arrive.)<\/p>\n<p>Suggested donation items include:<\/p>\n<p>Experiences (dinners, lessons, tickets, behind-the-scenes opportunities)<\/p>\n<p>Vacation or condo stays<\/p>\n<p>Apparel or branded merchandise<\/p>\n<p>Jewelry, art, or specialty items<\/p>\n<p>Gift baskets or one-of-a-kind packages<\/p>\n<p>Why donate?<\/p>\n<p>Directly support EIU student-athletes&#8217; academic and athletic success<\/p>\n<p>Gain exposure to a dedicated Panther audience<\/p>\n<p>Receive recognition in event materials and promotions (where applicable)<\/p>\n<p>In-Kind Food Sponsors &amp; Vendors<\/p>\n<p>EIU invites local restaurants, bakeries, and culinary partners to participate in a buffet-style dining experience. This dining experience will showcase multiple food vendors, with offerings including entr\u00e9es, hors d&#8217;oeuvres, small plates, and desserts. Participating vendors will be recognized in event advertising and promotions.<br \/>\nMonetary donations are also accepted.<\/p>\n<p>Participating food sponsors and vendors will:<\/p>\n<p>Be featured in event advertising and promotions<\/p>\n<p>Gain visibility with EIU alumni, donors, and community leaders<\/p>\n<p>Support a meaningful cause while showcasing their cuisine<\/p>\n<p>Get Involved<\/p>\n<p>Whether you attend as a guest, sponsor the event, donate an auction item, or participate as a food vendor, your involvement helps create opportunities for EIU student-athletes to succeed in competition, in the classroom, and beyond. EIU looks forward to seeing everyone in Groniger Arena Saturday, April 18, 2026. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>For more information, please contact:<\/p>\n<p>Amber May, Assistant Director of Development at ammay@eiu.edu or call 217-581-6014 for donation item pickup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Eastern Illinois University for an unforgettable evening in Groniger Arena of entertainment, dining, and philanthropy at the 2026 EIU Rhythm &amp; Blues Spring Fling, a premier Panther Club event [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-more-sports"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Eastern Illinois University Rhythm &amp; 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