- Dates
- Nov 9, 2012
- Venue
- USS Midway Aircraft Carrier
San Diego-based Syndicus Entertainment, in partnership with a number of San Diego organizations including the San Diego Sports Commission, announced today San Diego State University, coached by Steve Fisher who won a NCAA national title in 1989 will play the 2003 NCAA champions Syracuse University aboard the USS Midway aircraft carrier on Friday, November 9 in the inaugural “Battle On The Midway” game as part of a larger Veterans Day weekend series of events in San Diego.
The game will take place on the Midway’s flight deck and will be broadcast LIVE nationally at 4 p.m. PST. It will kick off several events centered on the Midway and along the Embarcadero in downtown San Diego.
San Diego State University comes off a (26-8) season and reigning Mountain West Conference Champions. Syracuse University, champions of the Big East regular season, finished their season at (34-3) and an Elite 8 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re thrilled to welcome San Diego State and Syracuse to play in the Battle On The Midway event,” said Al Kidd from the San Diego Sports Commission. “San Diego State has become one of the best teams in the West and Syracuse is a perennial powerhouse. The game is a great matchup with West meeting East to kickoff their seasons in beautiful San Diego in a nationally televised broadcast. We have a tremendous matchup that is sure to capture the interests of basketball fans and pay respect to our servicemen and servicewomen on this important national holiday .”
“It’s a tremendous honor that Syracuse has been selected to participate in the ‘Battle On The Midway,’ next November,” said Syracuse Hall of Fame Coach Jim Boeheim. “It will be a great experience for our players to compete against a quality program like San Diego State and at the same time be a part of Veterans Day weekend activities in San Diego.”
“We are very excited to be participating in the Battle on the Midway. We look forward to bringing the focus of the nation to the military, the city and San Diego State University with this wonderful event,” said SDSU coach Steve Fisher. “It is natural for SDSU to take a part in an event which will showcase our community to the country. The fact that we are playing Syracuse, the top-ranked squad for most of this past season and a perennial top-10 team, will help make it a national draw.”
Other Veteran Weekend events include the 1st Annual Strikeouts For Troops® Gala & Concert on Sunday evening, November 11, hosted by baseball star Barry Zito which will also be held aboard the USS Midway. The concert will be broadcast LIVE on a national television network. Along the Embarcadero, a “Fan Experience” will be held near the USS Midway which will include a variety of family-friendly sports and entertainment activities throughout the Veterans Weekend.”
Proceeds from the Strikeouts For Troops Gala & Concert will benefit Strikeouts For Troops designated charities. Proceeds from the game will benefit several national and local veterans organizations. The Veterans Council of San Diego will be working with local veteran organizations to help coordinate the activities for Veterans Weekend. The USS Midway Museum will augment the weekend’s events with daytime high school band performances saluting America’s veterans and will again make a Veterans Day weekend donation to military related charities.
Ticket and other related information will be released at a later date.