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| November 2007 | |||
| In the News | |||
Tampa To Host 2008 Beijing Olympics Qualifying Tournament Featuring U.S. Men's National Soccer Team in March
Televised live on ESPNU, the inaugural ESPNU Women's Basketball Invitational began with the No. 10 Duke University Blue Devils defeating the University of South Florida Bulls 89-52 and ended with the top-ranked University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers winning a 70-67 thriller over the ninth-ranked University of Oklahoma Sooners. All four schools who competed in the Invitational qualified for post-season play in 2007, with the University of Tennessee winning the National Championship. "I didn't know we'd have that many people dressed in orange," Tennessee Coach Pat Summitt said. "I think they got their money's worth. Hopefully, that will generate some excitement for the Final Four." As a prelude to the ESPNU Invitational, all four teams were treated to a special welcome reception and dinner cruise on the Yacht Starship Wednesday evening. The event introduced the theme "Tampa Twice," with the premise that these teams will hopefully end the season on the same floor where their season started. The St. Pete Times Forum will host the 2008 NCAA Women's Final Four Tournament on April 6 and 8, 2008.
2008 NCAA Women's Final Four & 1st and 2nd Round Ticket Package Opportunity
For Final Four Volunteer Opportunities, please visit: https://2008womensfinal4.theregistrationsystem.com/ Two-Time Defending National Champion Florida Gators at Forum Friday Night
The University of Florida men's basketball team ended a magical 2006-2007 season with a victory over Ohio State to claim the national title for the second straight year. With the victory, the Gators became the first team since 1991 and 1992 to repeat as national champions. The 2006-2007 season was one of the best in school history for the University of Vermont Catamounts under second year head coach Mike Lonergan. UVM went 25-8 overall and won the America East Regular Season Championship for the third time in the program's history with a 15-1 league mark. Ticket Information: Tickets are on sale at the McDonald's Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum and at all Ticketmaster Outlets including Spec's Music and FYE. To order tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 813.287.8844 or 727.898.2100. Tickets are priced at: $32.75, $22.75, $17.75, $12.75. Limited VIP Courtside Seats available for $202.75. Limited front row lower bowl tickets are available for $102.75. Prices do not include service charges. For more information please call 813.301.2500 or visit www.stpetetimesforum.com. For dinner reservations at Medallions Restaurant on the night of the event please call 813.301.6926. United Soccer Leagues' Third Annual SoccerFest Reaches New Heights in 2007
"Each year, the USL SoccerFest becomes a bigger success," said USL Director of Business Development James Ward. "Being members of the community since the headquarters of USL moved to Tampa in 1996, we are proud of what this event has contributed to the greater Tampa area over the past three years." Each day featured a unique event of its own with the opening day Thursday November 15 serving as the Arrival Day for 140 boys and girls youth teams from throughout the United States and Canada as well as over 300 soccer executives from USL's franchises in its senior professional and amateur leagues. "We are thrilled to have this dynamic partnership with United Soccer Leagues," said Tampa Bay Sports Commission Executive Director Rob Higgins. "Each year's event proves to have a tremendous economic and social impact on our incredible soccer community."
Admission and parking are free for Game Day of Champions and will be $5 and $2 respectively for the High School All-Star Game. Youth football players and cheerleaders in uniform will be admitted free of charge. 8:00 am FYFCA (Super Mid.) vs. *WCYFC (Midgets) Turkey Creek Trojans vs. Plant City Dolphins 9:00 am PPAL (Mighty Mites) vs. * WCYFC (Midgets) Lutz Chiefs vs. East Bay Buccaneers 10:30 am PPAL (Mighty Mites) vs. *FYFCA (Super Midgets) New Tampa Wildcats vs. Brandon Lions 12:00 pm FYFCA (JV) vs. *PPAL (JV) Pinecrest Pilots vs. Lutz Chiefs 2:00 pm WCYFC (Varsity) vs. *UYFC (Varsity) Brandon Steelers vs. UYFC Saints 7:00 pm Hillsborough County All-Star Game December's Calendar Full of Sporting Events 2nd This year's Lightning College Hockey Classic will be held at the St. Pete Times Forum on December 29 and December 30 and features Notre Dame, the The 30th Annual Tampa Bay Sun Bowl will feature some of the top youth boys teams in the country at various soccer complex throughout the greater 5th Annual AAU Winter Nationals All American Sports and Sunshine Sports bring the 5th Annual AAU Winter Classic Championship to the Ed Radice Complex December 27 - 30 to crown national champions in the eight to twelve year old age groups. For more information on 2007 tournament please visit: http://sunshinesports.net/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=440 USSSA Holiday Hoops Invitational Championship Basketball Inc. will host its Division I Boys and Girls Holiday Hoops Invitational at various gymnasiums throughout Hillsborough County on December 28 and 29. For more information please visit: http://flahoops.org/ Florida Winter Quarter Horse Circuit The 42nd Annual Florida Gold Coast Circuit is scheduled for December 27 through January 1 and the 27th Annual FQHA Gulf Coast Circuit competition will run from January 3 through January 7. Both events will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds Bob Thomas Equestrian Center. For more information please visit: http://www.fqha.net/calendar.htm For more information on all of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission's upcoming events, please visit: www.TampaBaySports.org 2008 Women's Basketball Final Four April 6 & 8, 2008 The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is searching for energetic individuals to act as community ambassadors to ensure that the event's first trip to the state of Florida is an overwhelming success. Those individuals interested in learning more about potential volunteer opportunities can log on to https://2008womensfinal4.theregistrationsystem.com/ or email final4volunteer@VisitTampaBay.com. High School All-Star Game - Game Day of Champions - December 8, 2007 The Tampa Bay Sports Commission is in the process of organizing our volunteer efforts for the annual High School All-Star Game and Game Day of Champions events that will be held on December 8 at Raymond James Stadium. Assistance is needed with team check-in, escorting teams and cheerleaders and welcoming fans to the stadium. For more volunteer information or to sign-up, please contact Weston Gallop at wgallop@VisitTampaBay.com or (813) 218-3892. | |||
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United States Soccer and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association of Football (CONCACAF) have finalized plans for Raymond James Stadium to host the United States Under-23 Men's National Team's group matches in the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Under-23 Championship. 
Four of the nation's top women's basketball programs started their season in Tampa on November 15 as the Bay area hosted the inaugural ESPNU Women's Basketball Invitational. The doubleheader featured three of the top 10 ranked teams in the country.
The St. Pete Times Forum will be hosting the 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball 1st and 2nd Rounds on March 21 and 23 and the NCAA Women's Final Four on April 6 and 8, 2008. Although general tickets have been sold out for months, the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee has several ticket and hospitality packages available for both events. Please contact Abigail Boustead of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission at 813-218-3829 or 
On Friday night, the St. Pete Times Forum will get a preview of what to expect come March, when Tampa hosts the First and Second Rounds of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Two of the nation's top men's basketball programs will be on display when the two-time defending national champion Florida Gators take the court against the University of Vermont Catamounts this Friday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m.
The third annual USL SoccerFest featuring the United Soccer Leagues Annual General Meeting at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tampa and the USL Super Y-League North American Finals concluded November 20 with 10 Championship matches at the Ed Radice Sports Complex. The title games concluded a six-day summit of games and meetings featuring approximately 10,000 soccer players, coaches and executives as well as families and friends that attended.
On December 8, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission will host its annual Game Day of Champions and High School All-Star Game at Raymond James Stadium. This year's festivities will begin at 8:00am with five games featuring 10 of the elite local youth football teams from the around the county and will conclude with the top senior talent from East Hillsborough County taking on their counterparts from the West at 7:00pm.
Tampa Bay Sports Commision - 401 East Jackson Street, Suite 2100, Tampa, Florida 33602
Ph: 813.223.1111 - Toll Free: 800.826.8358 - Fax: 813.218.3376 - www.TampaBaySports.org
For more information, email Blake Guthrie at bguthrie@VisitTampaBay.com