Fordham Hosts Championship, Semifinal Of Winner-Take-All $1 Million Event, The Basketball Tournament

April 17, 2015 - BOSTON -- The Basketball Tournament (TBT), a single-elimination, five on five winner-take-all, open-application tournament launched in 2014, today announced that Fordham University's historic Rose Hill Gymnasium in The Bronx, NY will host the 2015 Semifinals and Championship Game. ESPN will televise the Semifinals live with back-to-back coverage starting at 2:00pm on Saturday August 1. ESPN's exclusive coverage continues live from Rose Hill at 3:00pm on Sunday August 2, when two teams will face off in the unprecedented $1,000,000, winner-take-all Championship Game.

"We are excited to bring this open and democratic sports model to such an historic venue as Fordham's Rose Hill Gym," said Jonathan Mugar, Founder of The Basketball Tournament. "The intimate arena will make for the perfect setting to watch these teams compete for the $1,000,000 winner take prize on August 1st and 2nd. While a new event, TBT represents a throwback to an older era. Rose Hill fits perfectly with what we're trying to do."

The home of the Fordham University Rams, Rose Hill is the oldest active, on-campus Division I facility in the United States. Now 90 years old, Rose Hill Gymnasium has undergone numerous renovations in recent years and currently boasts state-of-the art video boards, new locker rooms and a world class playing surface and was recently named one of the "The Cathedrals of College Basketball."

Opening rounds begin July 10-12 at regional sites in Los Angeles and Atlanta and continue July 17-19 in Chicago and Philadelphia. Play continues on Thursday, July 23, when defending champion Notre Dame Fighting Alumni meet the lower seeded Chicago entrant in the opening game of the Super 17 from Chicago, televised live on ESPNU. On Friday, July 24, TBT will live stream the Round of 16 from Chicago. ESPNU will then carry all four Quarterfinal games on Saturday July 25, in marathon coverage, live from Chicago. Whoever makes it out of Chicago will then travel to New York City for the Semifinals and the Championship Game. In 2015, up to 96 teams plus defending champion Notre Dame Fighting Alumni will play for a grand prize of $1,000,000, doubling last year's prize of $500,000.

Venues in the other cities will be announced shortly.

Team applications into TBT began on April 1 and will run until 12p ET on June 1. Entry is free. The only way for teams to qualify is to organize themselves and recruit votes via TheTournament.com. Teams must consist of a General Manager (GM), at least seven players, and have 100+ fan votes to be eligible. Applicants must be 18 or older.

Philadelphia University and Boston University played host to the first tournament in June of 2014. In the championship game, the Notre Dame Fighting Alumni (led by former All BIG EAST players Torin Francis, Chris Thomas, and Russell Carter) defeated tournament favorite Team Barstool (led by Ross Burns, Dave Portnoy, Dan Katz and several players with NBA experience, including Los Angeles Clipper Dahntay Jones), 72-68, to win the event and the $500,000. The Notre Dame Fighting Alumni will be back to defend their title in 2015.

ABOUT THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Conceived by CEO Jonathan Mugar as the ultimate opportunity for fans, athletes and social media mavens to create teams and then participate in a high-stakes, professionally run and organized sporting event, The Basketball Tournament is a winner-take-all, single elimination, open competition for players 18 years of age or older.  In its first season, The Basketball Tournament drew over 100 team entries from around the country with 32 teams ultimately making the field.  Participants ranged from professional players and recent college talent to local legends and pickup basketball stars.  An overwhelming success in its launch year, the event is expanding nationwide in 2015, and doubling its prize. Among the advisors for the event are sports industry veterans Tony Ponturo of Ponturo Management Group, Andy Dolich of Dolich Consulting, and Len DeLuca of Len DeLuca & Associates, LLC. For more details visit http://www.thetournament.com/