NEW YORK (APRIL 11, 2016) – Roc Nation Sports, CC Sabathia’s PitCCh In Foundation, Robinson Cano’s RC22 Foundation, Miguel Cotto’s Fundacion El Angel, and Nick Jonas’ Beyond Type 1 today announce the second official Roc Nation Summer Classic Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Sabathia, Cano, Cotto and Jonas will serve as captains to celebrity basketball teams, which will be announced at a later date, in a tournament style competition. All proceeds from the event will serve to equally benefit signature programs for the PitCCh In Foundation, the RC22 Foundation, Fundacion El Angel de Miguel Cotto and Beyond Type 1.
Citi is the official pre-sale partner of the Roc Nation Summer Classic. Citi card members will have access to pre-sale tickets to this event through City’s Private Pass Program beginning Monday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET. For complete pre-sale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. In addition, pre-sale is available to TIDAL subscribers on Monday, April 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET at www.tidal.com/rnsummerclassic. New TIDAL members can sign up for an account (with a free-trial) here: www.tidal.com/us/try-now-c. General ticket prices ranging from $10.50 to $150, not including applicable service charges and taxes, go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10:00 a.m. ET and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com (bit.ly/RNSummerClassic16) and charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. Special packages, including VIP experiences and exclusive access to future Roc Nation events, begin at $250 (not including applicable service charges and taxes) and are also available on Ticketmaster.com.
This year’s Roc Nation Summer Classic aims to elevate the precedent set in August 2014, when Roc Nation Sports, CC Sabathia and Robinson Cano hosted the first official Roc Nation Summer Classic Basketball Game at Barclays Center. The night successfully raised $1,040,000, with all proceeds equally benefiting the PitCCh In Foundation and the RC22 Foundation with the collective aim of increasing opportunities for underserved youth in the areas of education, wellness and fitness. Team Sabathia took on Team Cano in a competitive celebrity match-up led by master of ceremonies Angie Martinez and guest host Jay Williams, who will both be returning on July 21 in the same capacity, and a coaching staff of NBA and MLB pros including Kevin Durant, Derek Jeter, Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Stellar player performances and stand outs on the court included DJ Khaled, Chris Brown, Terrell Owens, Fabolous, and Ne-Yo while many familiar faces could be seen among thousands of spectators including Rihanna, Skylar Diggins, Cara Delevingne, Angela Simmons, Stephen A. Smith, Future and Young Jeezy. Ultimately, Team Cano overcame Team Sabathia by merely 2 points – a deficit which Team Sabathia hopes to overcome on July 21 for their official rematch.
The Roc Nation Summer Classic Basketball Tournament on July 21 will once again feature a celebrity basketball showdown between Team Sabathia vs. Team Cano and Team Cotto vs. Team Jonas, with the winner of each match up advancing to a championship round. Other key features will include a dunk showdown, silent auction, and much more. In addition, this year, Power 105.1 will serve as the official radio partner for the Roc Nation Summer Classic Basketball Tournament.
“Team Sabathia is definitely looking for some redemption on July 21 against Team Cano,” said Sabathia. “Once again, the PitCCh in Foundation is proud to join forces with Roc Nation Sports to host an unforgettable evening that will continue to support the efforts the foundation has already accomplished. On April 23, the PitCCh In Foundation will unveil one of its baseball field renovations at Claremont Park, an accomplishment that would not have been possible without the support of the first official Roc Nation Summer Classic in 2014. Donations raised for the July 21 tournament will continue to make these renovations possible in the future.”
“After tasting victory in the first official Roc Nation Summer Classic, Team Cano is ready to win the whole tournament this year,” said Cano. “The Roc Nation Summer Classic in 2014 was an amazing night and it helped make the first RC22 DREAM School in the Dominican Republic a reality. We have a goal of opening up 21 more schools in the DR and continuing programs we’ve set up in the U.S., and the support that fans can give by coming out to this night really makes a difference. We promise we are going to give this game our all!”
“Our foundation is proud to be a part of the second official Roc Nation Summer Classic Basketball Tournament on July 21,” said Cotto. “After joining Roc Nation Sports, our foundation was eager to partner with the philanthropy department in order to best support our foundation’s mission and programs including Forma+Salud, an education strategy for schools and communities which promotes nutrition, physical activity and healthy habits, to fight obesity in children and adolescents. We are excited to put our team together for July 21 and fully intend to make it through to the championship round. Can’t wait!”
“I’m honored to have an opportunity to further the great work of Beyond Type 1, bringing awareness, understanding and support for those living with Type 1 diabetes,” said Jonas. “The organization works with individuals living with the disease while working towards ensuring a cure is on the way. This is going to be a meaningful and competitive event. Going up against Team Cano, Sabathia and Cotto at this year’s Roc Nation Summer Classic, I’m going to have my work cut out for me – but with the energy from all the fans that will be there, I know Team Jonas is going to be the one to beat.”
“We are so excited to expand the Roc Nation Summer Classic Charity Basketball experience this year to widen and increase the impact of four incredible charitable organizations,” said Dania Diaz, Roc Nation Managing Director, Philanthropy. “Through the PitCCh In Foundation, the RC22 Foundation, Fundacion El Angel de Miguel Cotto, and Beyond Type 1, children in need will have access to high quality education, get to play in safe baseball fields, lead healthy lifestyles, and access the resources and support to fight disease. Everyone who joins us and supports on July 21 at Barclays Center will not only get to witness a spectacular tournament, but they will also be part of making a real difference.”