ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The schedule has been finalized and two state-of-the-art major league venues have been added to the 2010 Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, event manager API Sports announced today. Doubleheaders at Dunedin Stadium and Bright House Field highlight a slate that features 30 games over three days, Feb. 26-28, 2010, at current and former big league facilities in the St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Fla., area.

“We are very happy to once again host the Big Ten/BIG EAST Challenge,” said Kevin Smith, director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. “The inaugural event exceeded our expectations on all fronts, setting up what we hope will be an even more successful second year. We look forward to providing an opportunity for these fine NCAA Division I baseball programs from two of the nation’s most visible conferences to escape the winter cold and come to our area to compete against equally matched opponents at major league-caliber facilities.”

In addition to Clearwater’s Bright House Field, the spring home of the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, and Dunedin Stadium, the spring home of the Toronto Blue Jays, games will be played in Clearwater at Jack Russell Stadium, longtime spring headquarters for the Phillies, as well as in St. Petersburg at Al Lang Stadium and the Naimoli Complex, both of which hosted spring training for the Tampa Bay Rays until this year. There will be 10 games each day matching up teams from the Big Ten and BIG EAST.

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SECOND BIG TEN/BIG EAST BASEBALL CHALLENGE SCHEDULED FOR
FEBRUARY 26-28, 2010

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Following an inaugural event in which nearly 17,000 spectators attended games in a three-day period, the second Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge, hosted by the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, has been confirmed for the weekend of Feb. 26-28, 2010. The 2010 edition, to be held in St. Petersburg and Clearwater, FL, will feature 10 teams from each conference competing in 30 games and be managed by API Sports.

“We are extremely pleased to bring the Big Ten/BIG EAST Baseball Challenge back to our area after such a successful inaugural event,” said Kevin Smith, Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission. “Over the years we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the BIG EAST Conference, and to be able to continue to grow our relationship with the Big Ten while providing a weekend of exciting baseball for the local community is a great opportunity for us. We feel privileged to be able to bring two of the nation’s premiere athletic conferences together to compete in the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area.” Read More>>