Latest news with #EmpireClassic
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana basketball will pay out more than $500,000 for non-conference games this season
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball will pay out more than $500,000 to non-conference opponents in 2025-26 for guarantee games, but agreements to play Louisville and participate in a multi-team event (MTE) that includes a game against Marquette at the United Center will offset those costs. The athletic department provided contracts for all the 2025-26 non-conference men's basketball games to The Herald-Times in response to an open records request. Bob Knight: On the Record Per the game contract, Indiana will receive $500,000 for playing Louisville at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Dec. 6 as part of an agreement with bdgSports. The full-service sports marketing agency organized the event and will receive all the revenue from the game. While the contract stipulates the money to be 'earmarked for Participant's student-athletes to engage in Name, Image and Likeness ('NIL') activities during ancillary functions at this Game,' the contract predates the House v. NCAA settlement that established a clearinghouse to vet all NIL deals and the money is now expected to be paid out directly to the school. The Hoosiers will be required to participate in a press conference in Indianapolis prior to the launch of ticket sales and attend a 'charity-based reception/banquet' the night before the game as part of the contract. More: Indiana basketball is making the right kind of noise during summer workouts Division I teams are allowed to play up to 31 regular-season games if they compete in an MTE, an early season tournament or event with multiple teams. Indiana has an unnamed MTE on their 2025-26 schedule organized by the Gazelle Group that's structured differently than the ones in which it participated each of the last two seasons (Battle 4 Atlantis and Empire Classic). The Gazelle Group's event includes two 'Host Teams' (Indiana and Marquette) along with a travel pool. The Hoosiers will play Marquette in a 'Showcase Game' at the United Center in Chicago on Nov. 9. They will also host games as part of the event in Bloomington against Milwaukee (Nov. 12) and Incarnate Word (Nov. 16). Indiana will pay a fee to the Gazelle Group 'as compensation for the two home games played during the Host Rounds' but will receive payment for participating in the showcase game and also receive a percentage of the net ticket sales from that matchup. The exact financials were redacted in the contract provided to The Herald-Times, but IU is expected to profit from participating in the MTE. More: Indiana basketball freshman Trent Sisley happy to be a Hoosier: 'Best decision I could have made' The cost of Indiana basketball's guarantee games in 2025-26 range from $105,000-$115,000 with the exception being a visit from Kansas State on Nov. 25. The contract is similar to the one South Carolina agreed to last season with the Hoosiers and doesn't include any compensation for the Wildcats. Alabama A&M and Lindenwood will each receive $110,000, Chicago State will receive $105,000, Siena College will receive $112,000 and Bethune-Cookman will receive $115,000.
San Francisco Chronicle
16-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Chase Center to host return of Cal-UCLA basketball rivalry in 2025 Empire Classic
Cal basketball lost a rival when UCLA joined the Big Ten Conference ahead of the 2024-25 season. For a year, the decades-long clash dating to 1959 went dormant. Come Nov. 25 at Chase Center, the men's teams will face off once more. The 2025 Empire Classic includes Cal, UCLA, Sacramento State and Presbyterian, with six games being held over the course of nine days, culminating in a finale featuring Cal and UCLA at the Golden State Warriors' and Valkyries' home arena. Having lost 12 of their past 13 matchups, the Bears trail 147-104 in a series that dates to 1921, according to Cal's records. The Bears — who haven't finished at or above .500 since 2016-17 — lost a few four-star transfers, per 247Sports, this past offseason, including leading scorer Andrej Stojaković. But head coach Mark Madsen also rebuilt his roster via five incoming four-star transfers: guards Nolan Dorsey (Campbell), Dai Dai Ames (Virginia) and Justin Pippen (Michigan), the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, as well as forwards Chris Bell (Syracuse) and John Camden (Delaware). Madsen has also brought former blue-chip high school recruit Sammie Yeanay (Grand Canyon) into the fold as he aims to deliver a winning record in his third season at the helm. UCLA has made the NCAA Tournament four of its past five seasons under head coach Mick Cronin. 'We're thrilled to renew the Cal-UCLA rivalry on such a big stage as part of the Empire Classic,' Madsen said in a news release. 'Anytime you have these two schools and programs meet, it brings great energy — and to do it in Chase Center, right here in the Bay Area, makes it even more special.' Cal will also play host to Sacramento State, the buzzworthy mid-major program led by retired NBA guard Mike Bibby, on Nov. 21 at Haas Pavilion. The Hornets have garnered national attention for their recent push to be more competitive in athletics, especially in basketball. NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal, whose son, Shaqir, transferred to Sacramento State from Florida A&M in April, agreed to become the school's basketball general manager weeks later.
