Defending champion Rocky Mount Fire Dept. will face Rocky Mount Police, Raleigh Fire and public safety teams from across North Carolina in an expanded basketball showdown
Rocky Mount, NC (PRUnderground) September 3rd, 2026
What began as a friendly local rivalry is growing into a regional competition as public safety agencies from across North Carolina prepare to take the court at the Rocky Mount Event Center for the 2nd Annual Battle of the Badges.
The event returns Saturday, September 12, 2026, bringing together the defending champion Rocky Mount Fire Department, Rocky Mount Police Department, Raleigh Fire Department, Edgecombe County EMS, and participating state correctional and community supervision agencies for an afternoon of basketball, community, and purpose.
Doors open at 1 p.m., with the first game tipping off at 2 p.m. Admission is $10, with proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association.
After a successful inaugural event, Battle of the Badges has expanded in its second year, drawing participation and support from beyond the Twin Counties and creating new partnerships among public safety agencies, businesses, and organizations across the state.
That growth also carries a deeper purpose in Eastern North Carolina, where cardiovascular disease continues to place a significant burden on families and communities. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in North Carolina, and 2024 data from the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics estimate that 9.4% of adults in Eastern North Carolina report a history of cardiovascular disease, compared with 8.3% in the Piedmont region.
"Eastern North Carolina continues to bear a disproportionate burden from cardiovascular disease, and that reality gives greater meaning to why we support the work of the American Heart Association and why Battle of the Badges matters to us," said David Joyner, General Manager of the Rocky Mount Event Center. "When we launched this event last year, we believed we could create something that was larger than a basketball game: an occasion that could unite people in competition, fellowship, and common purpose. What we are witnessing in its second year is that vision beginning to take root. Public safety agencies are coming to Rocky Mount from across the region, the Raleigh Fire Department has joined us from our state's capital, businesses and community partners are answering the call, and the event continues to grow. That is the kind of work we believe institutions like ours should do: create common ground, strengthen partnerships across North Carolina, and use the platform entrusted to us to serve something greater than ourselves."
This year's field includes the Rocky Mount Fire Department, Rocky Mount Police Department, Raleigh Fire Department, Edgecombe County EMS, North Carolina Probation and Parole, Maury Correctional Institution, Central Correctional Institution and Astemo.
For the first time, Battle of the Badges is also welcoming a local employer onto the championship court. Astemo, an Edgecombe County company, will compete as the event's 2026 Corporate Community Partner and special guest team, adding a new dimension to the competition and expanding the role of the business community in the event.
Cali Green, the venue's Catering & Conventions Manager and 2026 Twin Counties Heart Walk Chair, is leading the event for the Rocky Mount Event Center.
"The response to this year's Battle of the Badges has been incredible. We have public safety agencies from across the region stepping onto the court, along with businesses, sponsors, vendors, and community partners who have all answered the call to be part of something bigger than basketball," said Cali Green, 2026 Twin Counties Heart Walk Chair and Catering & Conventions Manager at the Rocky Mount Event Center. "As Heart Walk Chair, I'm especially grateful because the work of the American Heart Association has a very real impact on the families and communities we serve here in Eastern North Carolina. To see so many organizations come together, have some fun and compete, while also helping raise awareness and support for a cause that touches so many lives, is what makes this event so special. I cannot wait to see everyone together on September 12."
Tarboro native Danisha Lowe, known as "The Host with the Most," will serve as the official host for Battle of the Badges. Lowe, who also serves as HSE Department Administrator at Astemo, brings another local connection to this year's event, with Astemo joining the competition as the Corporate Community Partner and special guest team.
Impultz Entertainment will keep the energy going throughout the afternoon, while cheerleaders from Southwest Edgecombe High School and Rocky Mount High School will bring additional hometown spirit to the championship court.
Families can also enjoy the Kids Zone, sponsored by District Attorney Jeffrey Marsigli, featuring inflatables, games and activities for children.
Halftime competitions will give fans a chance to get in on the action, with Target serving as the Halftime MVP Sponsor and providing prizes that include a 40-inch Roku television, Keurig Mini, and Fujifilm Instax Mini.
Guests will also have access to concessions and participating vendors throughout the event.
Battle of the Badges is supported by a growing group of businesses and community partners, including Astemo, Crumbl, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Buffalo Wild Wings, Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-A, Bojangles, Alpha-Lit Rocky Mount-Greenville, Burrito Shak, Jersey Mike's, East Carolina Inflatables, and The Sports Facilities Companies.
Whether cheering for the defending champions, pulling for Raleigh Fire, backing a hometown agency or simply coming out for an afternoon of competition and community, fans are encouraged to fill the stands and support the teams competing for this year's Battle of the Badges title.
BATTLE OF THE BADGES
Saturday, September 12, 2026
Doors Open: 1 p.m.
First Game: 2 p.m.
Admission: $10
Location: Rocky Mount Event Center
Proceeds Benefiting: American Heart Association
For additional information, visit RockyMountEvents.com.
Booking & Inquiries
Sports tournaments: rmeceventsales@rockymountevents.com
Conferences, weddings, social & group events: cgreen@rockymountevents.com
Sponsorships & advertising: apittman@rockymountevents.com
Media Contact: Ashley Pittman
Marketing Department, Rocky Mount Event Center
apittman@rockymountevents.com
About the Rocky Mount Event Center
The Rocky Mount Event Center is a four-time ConventionSouth Readers' Choice Award winner, a 2025 Stella Silver Award winner, and is ranked among the top three volleyball venues in the nation. The 165,000-square-foot facility in Rocky Mount, N.C., hosts everything from national sporting events to corporate meetings, offering the space, functionality, and guest services to create memorable events for residents and national rights holders alike. The Event Center is a member of the SF Network, the nation's largest and fastest-growing network of sports facilities and is operated by The Sports Facilities Companies. For more information, visit RockyMountEvents.com.
About The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC)
The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) is the nation's leading resource for the planning, development, and management of sports, recreation, golf, ice, aquatics, fitness, wellness, and events facilities. SFC helps community leaders and developers create places that bring people together, improve quality of life, and deliver measurable, lasting results. As a turnkey partner, SFC supports projects from early planning, feasibility, and program development through professional facility management and high-performing operations.
SFC's integrated platform includes the Power Wellness and Spirit Golf Management brands, expanding its ability to serve communities across recreation, health, wellness, and outdoor assets. With more than 140 venues and approximately 7,500 team members across its network, SFC welcomes nearly 30 million guest visits and generates more than $1 billion in annual economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.
