The Arizona Sports & Tourism Authority (AZSTA) and Global Spectrum in collaboration with Northwest Sports & Entertainment Inc. today announced that the first ever basketball games to be held at the University of Phoenix Stadium will be played in December of 2008. Date and times are still to be determined.

The event, coined the Stadium Shootout, will be a double header and will feature four teams who won at least 20 contests and played in a postseason tournament during the 2007-2008 season. The first matchup features the Golden Gophers from the University of Minnesota facing the University of Louisville Cardinals. Game two pits the Brigham Young University Cougars against the Arizona State University Sun Devils.

The venue for this happening is the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals. The stadium 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.

The Gophers wrapped up the 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 post-season appearance for the Gophers since making the 2006 NIT Tournament.

The Gophers finished 20-14 on the season, an 11-game change in the win column from the 2006-07 season which is the largest season turnaround in school history and is tied for the second-best turnaround in Division I this season. Also, with eight wins in conference play, the Gophers tied Purdue for the biggest conference turnaround.  

For updated information and additional details of the Dec. 2008 event, visit the official website: www.stadiumshootout.com.

WHAT: Men’s NCAA Division 1 basketball, 2008 Stadium Shootout

WHO: Game 1: University of Louisville Cardinals vs. University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Game 2: Arizona State University Sun Devils vs. Brigham Young University Cougars

WHEN: December 2008, Date and Times still to be determined

WHERE: University of Phoenix Stadium, 1 Cardinals Drive, Glendale, AZ 85305

CONTACT: John A. Hines, Northwest Sports Cell: 206-295-6278, E-mail: john@northwestsports.org; Scott Norton, University of Phoenix Stadium Office: 623-433-7108, E-mail: snorton@universityofphoenixstadium.com

TICKETS: Ticketmaster general on-sale date is scheduled for September 27, Range $15-$125

WEBSITE: www.stadiumshootout.com