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| David A.K. Matlin Executive Director |
Daryl Garvin Associate Executive Director |
Brad Motooka Director of Operations/Ticketing |
Tamarah Tabor Event Manager/Office Manager |
Diamond Head Classic - Q's & A's
Q: What is the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic?
A: The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is a 3-day, 8-team, 12-game men’s Division I exempt basketball event. All 12 games are played at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, Hawai`i. The Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic is an ESPN Regional Television (ERT) owned and operated event. Ten (10) of the twelve (12) games will be televised on the ESPN family of networks.
Q: What is the history of the Stan Sheriff Center?
A: The Stan Sheriff Center opened in 1994 is named after the man who lobbied for its construction – former UH athletics director Stan Sheriff, has served as the home of the University of Hawai‘i men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball teams and has played host to a number of memories in the last decade. The Stan Sheriff Center is home of the most dominating volleyball teams in the land. The men’s and women’s volleyball teams have smashed nearly every attendance record since playing at the SSC en route to four NCAA Championship appearances (women, 1996, 2000, ’02 and ’03; and men, 1995 and 1996). UH’s impressive fan support have lured both the 1997 men’s and the 1999 women’s NCAA volleyball championships before the arena housed the 2004 Men’s Volleyball NCAA Championships this past spring. The SSC can hold 10,300 fans, which makes it one of the largest facilities in the Big West Conference. In addition the Stan Sheriff Center also plays host to many non-UH events. High school state championships and musical concerts are regularly held at the UH arena. The world champions Los Angeles Lakers have conducted several preseason camps at the SSC. National television audiences tuned-in to see NBA and WNBA stars suit up for Team USA in a stop before the 2000 Summer Olympics. The SSC even drew the attention of international audiences as host of the 1998 Miss Universe Pageant.
Q: How long has the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic been in existence?
A: When the tournament tips in December, it will mark the event’s fifth year. The Big West will be the “host” conference and the University of Hawai`i will be its representative each year.
Q: Which teams will be participating in 2013?
A: The 2013 field includes Boise State (MW) George Mason (Pac 12), Hawai''i (Big West), Iowa State (Big 12), Oregon State (Pac 12), Saint Mary's (WCC), South Carolina (SEC), and one team TBA at a later date.
Q: Where and when will the games be played?
A: All 12 games will be played at the Stan Sheriff Center over the Christmas Holiday Week (Sunday, Dec. 22; Monday, Dec. 23; and Wednesday, Dec. 25). Tuesday, Dec. 24, is an off day for the teams to enjoy the beaches of O`ahu and many other activities.
Q: Why Oahu?
A: Oahu known as the “Gathering Place,” certainly lives up to its name and is a gorgeous travel destination. The third largest island is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, a fusion of East and West cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the native Hawaiian people. This is an island of activity. Whether you’re learning to surf in legendary Waikiki hiking through the rich rainforests of Waimea Valley or watching the brilliant pastels of dusk fade off of Sunset Beach, you’ll find variety at every turn on Oahu.
Q: What is ESPN Regional Television?
A: ESPN Regional Television (ERT) is the nation’s largest syndicator of collegiate sports programming, ESPN Regional Television (ERT) annually produces more than 1,200 sporting events. Content includes action from NCAA football, basketball and Olympic sports, NHRA and professional and amateur golf, accounting for more than 3,400 live and/or original hours of programming. ERT’s owned and operated events reach over a million fans a year and provides more than 200 additional hours of programming.
In addition to event ownership, ERT is the production headquarters for ESPNU; syndication rights-holder and producer of national, regional and local shows for college conferences (SEC, BIG EAST,Big 12, Mid-American, WAC) and manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.
ESPN Regional Television markets and/or owns several sporting events:
Collegiate Football
BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, Ala.); Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg; Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MAACO Bowl Las Vegas; Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney (Orlando, Fla.); Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas (Houston); Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu) and The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards
Collegiate Basketball
Anaheim Classic (Anaheim, Calif.); Charleston Classic presented by Foster Grant (S.C.); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Classic (Madison Square Garden); Old Spice Classic (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); Puerto Rico Tip-Off (San Juan); Sears BracketBusters and State Farm Champions Classic (Georgia Dome, Atlanta)
Collegiate Lacrosse
ESPNU Warrior Classic
Additional Events
ESPN National Golf Challenge
For more information, visit ESPNPlus.com.
