The Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority (AZSTA) and Global Spectrum in collaboration with Northwest Sports & Entertainment Inc. today announced that the Minnesota/Louisville and Arizona State/Brigham Young basketball games, to be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium, will be played on December 20, 2008. Times are still to be determined.
The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, has already hosted the 2007 BCS National Championship College football game and this past February's Super Bowl XLII. Since opening on August 1, 2006, the multipurpose stadium has become one of the most impressive and renowned sports facilities in the entire world. In just its two year history, the stadium has garnered such awards as 2006 & 2007 "Best NFL Facility" by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily and 2007 Event Site of the Year by Event Solutions Magazine.
Minnesota wrapped up the 2007-08 regular season with a loss to the University of Maryland on Mar. 18 in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament. This was the first postseason appearance for the Gophers since making the 2006 NIT Tournament.
The Gophers finished the season 20-14 overall and 8-10 in the Big Ten. The 11-game improvement in the win column from the 2006-07 season was the largest season turnaround in school history and is tied for the second-best turnaround in Division I. Also, the eight wins in conference play tied Purdue for the biggest conference turnaround.
For updated information and additional details of the Dec. 20, 2008 event, visit the official website: www.stadiumshootout.com.
