University of Illinois and University of Missouri athletics officials,
together with representatives of Anheuser-Busch and Scottrade Center,
announced that the Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game
will remain at Scottrade Center in St. Louis until at least 2017.
The announcement was made on Thursday morning at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis.
“Scottrade
Center has been the proud home of the annual Braggin’ Rights game since
the building opened in 1994,” said Tom Stillman, Chairman of the St.
Louis Blues and Scottrade Center. “We are thrilled that
this St. Louis tradition will continue through 2017.”
Center has been the proud home of the annual Braggin’ Rights game since
the building opened in 1994,” said Tom Stillman, Chairman of the St.
Louis Blues and Scottrade Center. “We are thrilled that
this St. Louis tradition will continue through 2017.”
The
nation’s premier non-conference basketball rivalry, the Bud Light
Braggin’ Rights Game began play in St. Louis on Dec. 10, 1980, and has
been played 31 times over the last 32 years, including this season’s
meeting on Dec. 22, 2012, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
nation’s premier non-conference basketball rivalry, the Bud Light
Braggin’ Rights Game began play in St. Louis on Dec. 10, 1980, and has
been played 31 times over the last 32 years, including this season’s
meeting on Dec. 22, 2012, at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.
“The
Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game has become a holiday tradition for both
Mizzou and Illinois fans and this announcement is a shining example of
two athletics departments working to keep tradition alive
despite the changing landscape of scheduling in college basketball,”
Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. “I want to thank our
friends with Anheuser-Busch, State Farm and Scottrade Center for being a
major part of this great rivalry and I want to
thank the city of St. Louis for being such a great host for the
country’s top non-conference rivalry game.”
Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game has become a holiday tradition for both
Mizzou and Illinois fans and this announcement is a shining example of
two athletics departments working to keep tradition alive
despite the changing landscape of scheduling in college basketball,”
Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. “I want to thank our
friends with Anheuser-Busch, State Farm and Scottrade Center for being a
major part of this great rivalry and I want to
thank the city of St. Louis for being such a great host for the
country’s top non-conference rivalry game.”
Illinois
holds a 20-11 series advantage in St. Louis and an 11-10 lead in games
over the last 21 years. Missouri has won the last three meetings
following up a nine-game winning streak by Illinois from 2000-08.
holds a 20-11 series advantage in St. Louis and an 11-10 lead in games
over the last 21 years. Missouri has won the last three meetings
following up a nine-game winning streak by Illinois from 2000-08.
“We
are pleased to extend the contract ensuring that the Bud Light Braggin’
Rights game will remain a fixture in St. Louis for years to come,”
Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said. “The University
of Illinois enjoys a longstanding, spirited rivalry with the University
of Missouri, and this game has grown in popularity over the past 31
years to become one of the premier events of the college basketball
season. We would like to thank Anheuser-Busch, Scottrade
Center and State Farm for their tremendous support and continued
investment in this series."
are pleased to extend the contract ensuring that the Bud Light Braggin’
Rights game will remain a fixture in St. Louis for years to come,”
Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomas said. “The University
of Illinois enjoys a longstanding, spirited rivalry with the University
of Missouri, and this game has grown in popularity over the past 31
years to become one of the premier events of the college basketball
season. We would like to thank Anheuser-Busch, Scottrade
Center and State Farm for their tremendous support and continued
investment in this series."
Anheuser-Busch
has renewed its title sponsorship with the game and State Farm
Insurance will continue as the game's presenting sponsor.
has renewed its title sponsorship with the game and State Farm
Insurance will continue as the game's presenting sponsor.
“This
is one of the most anticipated non-conference games in all of college
basketball, and Anheuser-Busch is proud to remain the title sponsor of
this holiday classic, as we have been for more than 30 years,”
said Blaise D’Sylva, vice president of media, sports and entertainment
marketing at Anheuser-Busch. “The Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game is a
major part of our sports fabric here in St. Louis, and this sponsorship
is another avenue for Anheuser-Busch to support
the academic and athletic missions taking place on campus at Missouri
and Illinois.”
is one of the most anticipated non-conference games in all of college
basketball, and Anheuser-Busch is proud to remain the title sponsor of
this holiday classic, as we have been for more than 30 years,”
said Blaise D’Sylva, vice president of media, sports and entertainment
marketing at Anheuser-Busch. “The Bud Light Braggin’ Rights Game is a
major part of our sports fabric here in St. Louis, and this sponsorship
is another avenue for Anheuser-Busch to support
the academic and athletic missions taking place on campus at Missouri
and Illinois.”
Overall,
five games in the Braggin’ Rights series have gone into overtime, and
14 games have been decided by two possessions or fewer.
five games in the Braggin’ Rights series have gone into overtime, and
14 games have been decided by two possessions or fewer.
“There
is nothing like this game in all of college basketball,” Mizzou Head
Coach Frank Haith said. “The fan bases are split down the middle and the
enthusiasm is second to none. You add in a national television
audience and the excitement of the holiday season and you get the best
rivalry game of the non-league season.”
is nothing like this game in all of college basketball,” Mizzou Head
Coach Frank Haith said. “The fan bases are split down the middle and the
enthusiasm is second to none. You add in a national television
audience and the excitement of the holiday season and you get the best
rivalry game of the non-league season.”
Haith
coached in his first Braggin’ Rights Game in 2011 and led the Tigers to
a 78-74 victory. Illinois’ John Groce will get his first opportunity in
2012 after an impressive run at Ohio University where he
led the Bobcats to a pair of NCAA Tournaments including the 2012 Sweet
16.
coached in his first Braggin’ Rights Game in 2011 and led the Tigers to
a 78-74 victory. Illinois’ John Groce will get his first opportunity in
2012 after an impressive run at Ohio University where he
led the Bobcats to a pair of NCAA Tournaments including the 2012 Sweet
16.
“I’ve
heard about the importance of the Illinois-Missouri game since the day I
took the job here at the University of Illinois,” Fighting Illini Head
Coach John Groce said. “This is one of college basketball’s
best non-conference rivalry games. When you factor in the longevity of
the series, holding it at a neutral site in St. Louis with the crowd
split 50-50, and playing it right before the holidays; you are talking
about a big-time environment for our players,
alumni and fans. I’m excited about experiencing this rivalry for the
first time, and that we are extending the contract so the Braggin’
Rights game will continue for many years.”
heard about the importance of the Illinois-Missouri game since the day I
took the job here at the University of Illinois,” Fighting Illini Head
Coach John Groce said. “This is one of college basketball’s
best non-conference rivalry games. When you factor in the longevity of
the series, holding it at a neutral site in St. Louis with the crowd
split 50-50, and playing it right before the holidays; you are talking
about a big-time environment for our players,
alumni and fans. I’m excited about experiencing this rivalry for the
first time, and that we are extending the contract so the Braggin’
Rights game will continue for many years.”
Practice
is underway for both Illinois and Missouri. The Fighting Illini open
regular season play on Nov. 9 vs. Colgate. Missouri opens its schedule
on Nov. 10 vs. Southern Illinois Edwardsville. Both clubs
have exciting tournaments in late November with Illinois competing in
the Maui Invitational (Nov. 19-21), while Missouri travels to Nassau,
Bahamas, for the Battle 4 Atlantis event (Nov. 22-24).
is underway for both Illinois and Missouri. The Fighting Illini open
regular season play on Nov. 9 vs. Colgate. Missouri opens its schedule
on Nov. 10 vs. Southern Illinois Edwardsville. Both clubs
have exciting tournaments in late November with Illinois competing in
the Maui Invitational (Nov. 19-21), while Missouri travels to Nassau,
Bahamas, for the Battle 4 Atlantis event (Nov. 22-24).