Tripleheader to Feature USC, TCU, New Mexico, Saint Mary’s, Arizona State and Nevada
Los Angeles, CA – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the field of teams for the third annual Basketball Hall of Fame Classic presented by Citi, a premier college basketball showcase held in conjunction with STAPLES Center on Friday, December 7, 2018. The one-day tripleheader will feature Texas Christian University vs. the University of Southern California, Saint Mary’s College vs. University of New Mexico, and University of Nevada vs. Arizona State University.
“Now in its third year, the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic is a tripleheader not to be missed,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We look forward to partnering with Citi, AEG and STAPLES Center to host another terrific college showcase in an iconic venue in Los Angeles.”
“STAPLES Center and AEG are incredibly excited to have the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic return to downtown Los Angeles and STAPLES Center,” Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center, Microsoft Theater and L.A. LIVE. “We are looking forward to hosting this event for the third consecutive year and welcoming college basketball teams and fans from around the country to STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE.”
Tickets for the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, May 18, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. PT via AXS.com, by phone at 888-929-7849 and the STAPLES Center box office. Citi Pre-Sale will be available May 15 to 21. Game times and television broadcast information will be released at a later date.
Quotes from Participating Head Coaches
"We have really enjoyed our association with the Basketball Hall of Fame. This will be our third consecutive season of competing in the Hall of Fame Classic and it has provided us with a great opportunity to face high-quality opponents and get national exposure for our team early in the season.” – Andy Enfield, USC
“We are excited to return to Los Angeles and to the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic this fall. It’s another great opportunity for us to play in one of the top venues in the world, the STAPLES Center, and in California, home to many TCU alums and current students. It’s also an opportunity for us to play a quality team from the Pac-12.” - Jamie Dixon, TCU
“Playing in Los Angeles at the STAPLES Center is a great opportunity for our program and student-athletes. We have a great history with Lobo basketball and southern California and this seemed like a tremendous fit for us. To compete against a program such as Saint Mary’s with all of their success and tradition poses an amazing challenge and helps build a very competitive non-conference schedule for us.” – Paul Weir, New Mexico
"It’s an honor for our program to be involved with such a prestigious organization like the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. We are excited to play in this event and to have the chance to play a program with a proud tradition like New Mexico. To play in a great venue like the STAPLES Center will be an amazing experience for our program. " - Randy Bennett, Saint Mary’s College
“We look forward to playing in STAPLES Center this December like we did last year in such a wonderful event. The location is perfect for us and to play in an NBA Arena that also hosts NCAA postseason action is a great experience. We also know our Los Angeles-based fans are excited to watch Remy Martin in his hometown. Playing great neutral site games is a tremendous way to advance our program, and the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic provides us an incredible opportunity early in the year.” – Bobby Hurley, Arizona State University
“We are extremely excited to be playing in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at STAPLES Center. It is a phenomenal experience for our program to be playing in this prestigious event two years in a row. Every year, we try to improve our schedule and challenge our team against the best and to be playing against a program from the Pac-12 will be a great non-conference challenge. Arizona State is a very talented team and is extremely well-coached. This is simply a great game for our program.” - Eric Musselman, Nevada
About STAPLES Center: STAPLES Center has clearly established itself as the sports and entertainment center of the world. As the home of four professional sports franchises – the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the most recent 2016 WNBA Champions Los Angeles Sparks – STAPLES Center has proven to be a home court advantage for the local teams. The AEG owned and operated arena continues to distinguish itself as the host of major, high-profile events of national and international distinction including the 2004 & 2011 NBA All-Star Games, 2002 NHL All-Star Game, 2000 Democratic National Convention, 2009 World Figure Skating Championships and 15 of the last 16 GRAMMY Awards shows. STAPLES Center’s sixteen years have also been marked with performances and special events that brought international stature to the downtown Los Angeles venue including concerts Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Prince U2, Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, Usher, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Keith Urban, Roger Waters, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, Sade and Justin Timberlake, as well as world championship boxing, family shows and special events. Hosting over 250 events a year, the arena’s reputation for world-class amenities, features and commitment to quality of service and the guest experience is second to none. Staples, Inc. entered into a 20-year agreement to become the arena’s Naming Rights Partner December 1, 1998, which has since been extended into perpetuity.
About Citi: Citi offers its credit and debit cardmembers access to tickets to more than 12,000 events annually through Citi® Private Pass®, the bank’s entertainment access program. Citi Private Pass provides special access to presale tickets and VIP experiences to some of the world’s biggest artists and events ranging from music, sports, dining, theater, comedy, festivals, and other live entertainment. For more information, please visit citiprivatepass.com or follow @citiprivatepass on Twitter.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.
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