PHOENIX, AZ – Today, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the postponement of the third annual Jerry Colangelo Classic originally scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2020 to December 18, 2021. A premier college basketball showcase hosted at the home of the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury in downtown Phoenix, the one-day quadruple-header was to feature Gonzaga vs. Texas Tech, Arizona State vs. BYU, San Francisco vs. Grand Canyon, and Northern Arizona vs. San Diego.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame has been proud to host the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix the past two seasons and we’re obviously disappointed the global pandemic has forced us to reschedule our 2020 event,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Nonetheless, we have every intention of returning in 2021 and are very excited to utilize the many recent arena enhancements to offer our fans a fantastic experience.”
The Jerry Colangelo Classic 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. Several events have been canceled or rescheduled due to COVID-19. As the health and safety of the athletes, fans and staff is of the utmost importance, the Basketball Hall of Fame will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely in the coming months and will make every effort to return to its variety of live events in 2021.
About Talking Stick Resort Arena
For more than 28 years, Talking Stick Resort Arena has been a hub for world class sports and entertainment as the home of the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Arizona Rattlers and dozens of live concerts and events each year. A $230 million dollar transformation is currently underway at the iconic building that will reinforce the arena as Arizona’s premier venue. The reimagination of Talking Stick Resort Arena will update the building’s infrastructure and exponentially improve the overall fan experience through state-of-the-art enhancements including significant technology improvements, elevated food and beverage offerings, all-new premium spaces and experiences and much more. Once completed, the transformed venue will treat every guest to an all-new arena experience. For more information, visit TalkingStickResortArena.com.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall #ColangeloClassic or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.