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ESPN Launches Dick Vitale Invitational and Renews His Contract Through 2027-28

Scheduled for November 4 in Charlotte, the inaugural game honors Vitale’s four-decade ESPN career following his return to broadcasting after battling cancer.

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Overview

  • The Dick Vitale Invitational will debut on November 4, 2025, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte with a season-opening matchup between Duke and Texas.
  • Vitale signed a new multi-year deal with ESPN that extends his tenure through the 2027-28 season and marks nearly 50 years with the network.
  • Since joining ESPN’s launch in 1979, Vitale has called more than 1,000 college basketball games and been inducted into both the Naismith Basketball and Sports Broadcasting Halls of Fame.
  • He returned to the booth in February 2025 after a two-year absence during his fourth battle with cancer, underscoring his resilience and passion for the sport.
  • Through the Dick Vitale Pediatric Cancer Research Fund, Vitale has helped secure over $105 million in V Foundation grants supporting childhood cancer treatments and care.