Baha Mar partners with ESPN for destination fantasy football draft

NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS – Baha Mar, the Bahamas’ leading luxury resort today announced it is collaborating with ESPN Fantasy Football, the No. 1 most popular fantasy football platform, to host the first ESPN Fantasy Football Ultimate Draft Weekend at Baha Mar next month. Taking place from Aug. 22-25, the Ultimate Draft Weekend will feature an array of curated luxury experiences geared toward the fantasy football enthusiast, including draft insights and analysis from ESPN Fantasy Football experts and a buzzworthy Draft Day.

“We’re thrilled to work with ESPN Fantasy Football to host the inaugural ESPN Fantasy Football Ultimate Draft Weekend at Baha Mar this August,” says Graeme Davis, President of Baha Mar. “ESPN Fantasy Football is the most popular game in the world of fantasy sports and, like Baha Mar, loves to bring people together for amazing, world-class fan experiences. We look forward to welcoming the different leagues to our fabulous resort and putting forth spectacular experiences for them to enjoy during our upcoming draft weekend.”

The event will feature ESPN Fantasy Football experts Field Yates, Stephania Bell, Mike Clay, and Daniel Dopp. Participants at Baha Mar will be able to mix and mingle with ESPN’s experts throughout the weekend, participate in a Q&A session, and receive detailed draft analysis from them leading up to the Live Draft on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 24.

“Every year, Fantasy Football leagues around the world gather with their friends and family to kick off the season,” says Alexander Healy-Lucciola, Senior Director of Marketing, Fantasy and Sports Betting at ESPN. “The draft is one of the best days of the year, bringing everyone together to choose their teams and play out league traditions. Partnering with Baha Mar to provide a world-class destination draft highlights the unique ways that ESPN continues to provide fans with the best possible Fantasy experience.”

As part of Pre-Draft activities, on Friday, Aug. 23, leagues will have the opportunity to participate in a competitive “Draft Combine” to determine their league’s draft order, including beach races, a football skills competition, slide races, and more. Other options for participants to choose from include a day of golf at Baha Mar’s Jack Nicklaus Signature Royal Blue golf course, miniature golf at Mini Blue, a basketball combine, a blackjack tournament, and a day of leisure by the pool or the resort’s Cable Beach. The evening will conclude with a Draft Prep Cocktail Reception featuring ESPN Fantasy Football experts breaking down draft strategies for the 2024-25 season.

On Saturday, Aug. 24 all leagues will get ready for Draft Day with a final draft prep session, the “2-Minute Drill,” prior to the 4 p.m. Live Draft. All leagues will gather in the Baha Mar Convention Grand Ballroom to make their final picks. The weekend will close with a Draft Celebration Party at Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House.

The event will be managed by bdG Sports, which brings more than 20 NCAA Division I basketball teams to Baha Mar each November for Baha Mar Hoops as well as owns and operates two Korn Ferry Tour professional golf tournaments in The Bahamas each January, the Great Exuma Classic and the Great Abaco Classic. The full calendar of events include:

Thursday, August 22

  • Arrivals
  • 7-9 p.m. – Welcome Reception

Friday, August 23

  • 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – Draft Order Activities to include Beach Combine, Football Skills Camp, Basketball Combine, or Royal Blue Golf, etc.
  • 5-6:30 p.m. – Draft Prep Cocktail Reception

Saturday, August 24

  • 3 p.m. – “2-Minute Drill” final pre-draft prep session
  • 4-7 pm: ESPN Ultimate Draft live in the Baha Mar Convention, Arts & Entertainment Center’s Grand Ballroom
  • 7-9 pm: Draft Celebration Party at Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House

Sunday, August 25

  • Departures

Weekend packages for the event are now on sale at https://bahamar.com/draft/ and start at $1,750, with additional room nights available for an additional cost. Participants can room with other league members or have the option to bring an additional guest(s) that aren’t participating in the Draft.

Cincinnati-Dayton series continues with Hoops Classic presented by CareSource rematch

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati-Dayton series continues during the upcoming 2024-25 men’s basketball season when the two longtime rivals clash at the Hoops Classic presented by CareSource on Dec. 20 at Heritage Bank Center in downtown Cincinnati. The contest was announced Monday by veteran event promoter, bdG Sports.

Tip time and television information will be announced later.

The Flyers claimed an 82-68 victory over the Bearcats last season when the two schools met at Heritage Bank Center on Dec. 16, 2023. The matchup marked the first meeting between the two schools since 2010.

Cincinnati brings back four starters from its 2023-24 unit that registered a 22-15 record during its first season in the Big 12 Conference. The Bearcats advanced to the quarterfinals of the NIT.

Dayton returns three starters from last year’s squad that posted a 25-8 overall mark and finished third in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings. The Flyers earned a No. 7 seed in NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round.

Cincinnati and Dayton have met 92 times in series history with the Bearcats holding a 60-32 advantage. The rivalry is the third longest in program history for both schools. Cincinnati has played only Miami (Ohio) [149 games] and Louisville [99] more times while Dayton has faced only Xavier [159] and Miami (Ohio) [132] more often.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets go on sale starting Thursday, July 18 at 10 a.m., at HeritageBankCenter.com, Ticketmaster.com or through the Ticketmaster app.

Like last season’s contest, the atmosphere inside Heritage Bank Center should be electric with the two fan bases seated in separate halves of the arena. In the lower bowl, sections 112-128 will be designated for Cincinnati fans while sections 108-132 will be earmarked for Dayton fans. Sections 110 and 130 at midcourt will each be divided among the schools as well. The upper bowl will be divided in a similar fashion.

BBN Invitational MTE announced as part of Kentucky’s 2024-25 non-conference schedule

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s basketball team has set its 2024-25 nonconference schedule, head coach Mark Pope announced Wednesday. The 13-game nonconference schedule includes nine home contests in Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center, an away tilt at Clemson and three neutral-site matchups.

The Southeastern Conference slate, along with television networks and game times will be announced at a later date.

Rhode Island to join Louisville, Calgary, UVic and The Bahamas at Baha Mar Hoops Summer League

NASSAU, The Bahamas – Rhode Island men’s basketball is bound for the Bahamas this August.

The Rams will participate in the 2024 Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, Aug. 4-9, in Nassau, Bahamas. The six-day foreign tour features a trio of games played against international competition at the Baha Mar Convention, Arts and Entertainment Center onsite at the stunning Baha Mar resort.

International opponents include teams from the University of Calgary (Canada), the University of Victoria (Canada) and the Bahamas. The full Baha Mar Hoops Summer League schedule, including previously announced Louisville men’s basketball, is as follows:

  • Tuesday, July 30 – Louisville vs. Bahamas, 7 p.m. ET
  • Thursday, Aug. 1 – Louisville vs. Calgary, Noon ET
  • Monday, Aug. 5 – Rhode Island vs. University of Calgary, 6 p.m. ET
  • Wednesday, Aug. 7 – Rhode Island vs. University of Victoria, 6 p.m. ET
  • Thursday, Aug. 8 – Rhode Island vs. Bahamas, 6 p.m. ET

“The opportunity to bring our program to a destination site like the Baha Mar resort and the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League is exciting,” Rhode Island head coach Archie Miller said. “Any chance to give your team live game action against any opponent helps build team chemistry, especially where we are blending a returning nucleus with several newcomers. Trips like this are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that give the team members lasting memories.”

In its third season under Miller, Rhode Island returns six players, including the top two scorers from last season, David Green (14.3 points/game) and Jaden House (14.1 points/game). Rising sophomores David Fuchs (7.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game) and Cam Estevez (7.1 points/game) are foundational pieces who impressed in their first season a year ago. The Rams also brought in five transfers, four of which come from Power 5 programs. Jamarques Lawrence (Nebraska), Sebastian Thomas (UAlbany), Quentin Diboundje (Tennessee/East Carolina), Javonte Brown (Texas A&M/Western Michigan) and Drissa Traore (St. John’s) all figure to make an immediate impact.

NCAA rules allow for a foreign tour by an intercollegiate team once every four academic years. The Baha Mar Hoops Summer League is managed by bdG Sports, a Lexington-based event marketing firm which annually operates two dozen collegiate men’s and women’s basketball games at Baha Mar each November.

“Baha Mar is without question the hottest resort in the world with so many entertainment options onsite,” President and CEO of bdG Sports Brooks Downing said. “It should make for a memorable experience for Rhode Island and its fans.”

FAN PACKAGES ON SALE NOW

The trip serves as the first up-close opportunity to catch the Rams in action as Rhode Island gears up for the coming 2024-25 campaign. Fans interested in attending the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League can request additional details on fan packages by emailing [email protected]. Packages include accommodations at the Baha Mar resort, welcome reception tickets, game tickets, breakfast vouchers and other amenities. Game tickets are on sale now at www.bahamarhoops.com.

 MORE THAN BASKETBALL AWAITS AT THE BEAUTIFUL BAHA MAR RESORT

The remarkable Baha Mar resort serves as the backdrop to this basketball showcase. Anchored by Grand Hyatt and featuring SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar, the resort is situated on 1,000 acres overlooking Nassau’s famous turquoise ocean waters. The destination resort boasts more than 2,300 rooms, the largest casino in the Caribbean, a $200 million luxury water park, an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Caribbean’s first and only flagship ESPA Spa and a collection of more than 45 restaurants and lounges.

 ABOUT BAHA MAR HOOPS

As part of Baha Mar Hoops, the resort welcomes 20 NCAA men’s and women’s teams for a three-tournament, regular-season event each November as well as holds a summer league that includes exhibition games against international competition as part of a foreign tour. The resort has welcomed Kentucky, Xavier and Penn State for summer exhibition tours in recent years.

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