Kentucky, Michigan, Marist and Maine to Compete in December 2022
Springfield, Mass. – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame re-announced on Monday, Feb. 28 the field of teams for the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase, a one-of-a-kind college basketball double-header that will be held in conjunction with The O2 arena on Sunday, December 4, 2022. The event will mark the first college basketball game ever played at O2 arena, which is globally renowned for being the busiest arena in the world. Originally scheduled for December 6, 2020 but postponed for concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the revamped event will be headlined by the University of Kentucky vs. University of Michigan at 6:00 p.m. London time/1:00 p.m. ET, with Marist College vs. University of Maine leading the festivities off at 3:30 p.m. London time/10:30 a.m. ET.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame is proud to celebrate the game on a global scale and we couldn’t be more excited to host four Division I men’s teams in London this December,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “We were disappointed to postpone our event in 2020, but could not be more excited to get the inaugural games underway soon. The O2 is a beautiful, world-class venue and we expect many U.S.-based fans will make the trip to enjoy its amenities and support their teams abroad. We’re also looking forward to showcasing collegiate hoops to the local fans and growing the appreciation for basketball at all levels worldwide.”
“We are honoured to be hosting the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase at The O2 this December,” Gael Caselli, VP of Sports, AEG Europe commented. “Fans from around the world will come to celebrate basketball and enjoy the excitement and experience of college basketball in our world class venue for the very first time, as we look forward to welcoming teams from Kentucky, Michigan, Marist and Maine as part of this inaugural event.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase is one event in the Hall of Fame’s series of collegiate events, which continues to grow in an effort to celebrate the game outside the museum walls. Tickets for the Basketball Hall of Fame London Showcase will go on-sale to the general public on Friday, March 4, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. London time/4:00 a.m. Eastern Time via AXS.com and The O2 arena box office. A special O2 Arena presale will be available starting Thursday, March 3rd. Television broadcast information will be released at a later date.
“The University of Maine Men’s Basketball program is both honored and excited about our selection to participate in the Hall of Fame Showcase at the O2 Arena in London, England. This trip will be educational while providing lifelong memories for our players and staff. For many of our European players, it will also offer an opportunity to play in front of family and friends. We thank the Naismith Hall of Fame for the opportunity.” – Maine Basketball
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