Vivint Smart Home Arena will host the annual Zions Bank Beehive Classic, an annual doubleheader featuring Utah, BYU, Utah State, and Weber State in men’s basketball.
SALT LAKE CITY—The state of Utah will now have an in-state men’s basketball showcase at a neutral site.
Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment announced the launch of the Zions Bank Beehive Classic, a four-team annual doubleheader taking place at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City beginning in 2017 between the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Weber State University.
The four schools will rotate opponents on an annual basis between 2017-2019 in mid-December of each year. Each school will have an allotment of 4,500 tickets to sell for the doubleheader, allowing attendance to both games. Student sections will be in the lower bowl of the arena at student pricing. Each school’s pep band and cheer squad will also be in attendance.
A portion of proceeds will go toward scholarship funds at each of the school, and each school will share equally in revenue.
“We are excited to announce the Zions Bank Beehive Classic — a celebration of community and basketball,” said LHM Sports & Entertainment president Steve Starks, per a press release. “Our organization is thrilled to bring these four great schools, and their fans, together at Vivint Smart Home Arena for an annual one-day doubleheader.”
“I would like to thank the Larry H. Miller group for helping facilitate the Beehive Classic,” said University of Utah athletic director Chris Hill, per a University of Utah press release. “I am excited about bringing in four state teams to participate in this neutral site event. This will be a great event for the fans of our state.”
On years Utah and BYU are not playing each other in the tournament, they will play annually on rotating home courts. BYU will host Utah in 2017, and Utah will host BYU in 2019.
Television deals for the Beehive Classic, to be held on the second Saturday of each December, have not been reached at this time.
Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017
BYU vs. Weber State
Utah State vs. Utah
Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018
Utah State vs. Weber State
Utah vs. BYU
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019
Weber State vs. Utah
BYU vs. Utah State
