SEATTLE, MARCH 13, 2023 – Global Sports & Events (GSE), a Seattle-based sports management firm, announced today it has teamed up with Sports San Diego, producers of the Holiday Bowl and the non-profit organization responsible for driving sports tourism to San Diego. GSE is filling the fields for the newly announced Rady Children’s Invitational, an annual college basketball tournament that will take place during the Thanksgiving holiday. Featuring four NCAA Division 1 teams from top conferences, the inaugural event is positioned to be one of the premier invitational tournaments in the country.
The Rady Children’s Invitational tips off this year on Thanksgiving Day. The two-day event will be played at UC San Diego and games will be televised by FOX Sports. The 2023 field includes the Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten), USC Trojans (Pac-12), Seton Hall Pirates (Big East) and the Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12).
“Partnering with industry and community leaders, like Sports San Diego, Rady Children’s Hospital and FOX Sports gives GSE yet another platform to impact a wide range of student-athletes and children alike,” said Sean McShane, Partner at GSE. “We share the vision of Mark Neville in making the RCI the premier in-season NCAA men’s basketball tournament in the years to come. Thanksgiving can’t get here fast enough!”
“Sports events have been a pillar of the tourism industry in San Diego,” said Mark Neville (UC San Diego Class of 1991), CEO of Sports San Diego. “Together with Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, FOX Sports, UC San Diego Athletics, and Global Sports & Events – we endeavor to produce the very best and most special early season college basketball tournament in the country. San Diego is the perfect place to do this.”
“FOX Sports is thrilled to build on its relationship with Sports San Diego and showcase the Rady Children’s Invitational for a national audience over the coming years,” said Derek Crocker, FOX Sports, Vice President, Collegiate Sports. “We look forward to adding these elite matchups to our robust college basketball schedule.”
First day matchups and tip times will be announced in the coming months. Fields for future years will be announced at a later date. If you are a team interested in participating in future fields, please contact the GSE team at info@globalsande.com. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 31. Fans wanting to receive the first opportunity to purchase tickets are encouraged to visit www.RadyChildrensInvitational.com. In addition, $5 per ticket sold will be donated to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
About Sports San Diego
Sports San Diego is a dba under the non-profit San Diego Bowl Game Association 501c3. With the support of the San Diego Tourism Authority and Tourism Marketing District, Sports San Diego launched in January 2022 to serve as the primary organization responsible for marketing San Diego as a sports destination and driving visitor demand through recruiting, supporting, and hosting world-class sports events. Sports San Diego is strategically aligned with the San Diego Bowl Game Association, also known as the Holiday Bowl, as the region’s longest-standing annual tourism-driving sports event. Since 1977, the Holiday Bowl has generated $977 million in economic impact and 819,000 hotel room nights for the San Diego region.
About Global Sports & Events
Global Sports & Events (GSE) is the leader in producing unique sporting events and experiences for athletes worldwide. With over three decades of practice and a deep sports network around the globe, the GSE team has organized hundreds of high-profile events spanning collegiate and amateur athletics. With a specialization in athlete impact and international logistics, GSE prides itself on creating cultural and educational experiences for athletes, coaches, fans, donors, and university partners. Additionally, GSE provides services for team acquisition, game scheduling, deal structure, event operations consulting, and media and distribution advisory. Known for their reputation, relationships, and innovation, GSE always puts the team’s experience FIRST. For more information, visit www.globalsande.com.
