Gonzaga-Tennessee MBB exhibition set for PPV

The pay-per-view model in sports is an interesting one. It’s worked very well for boxing (to the point where even initially non-PPV models have incorporated some PPVs), MMA, and wrestling, but attempts to work that into other sports haven’t always gone as smoothly. For example, there was much rejoicing earlier this year when the Oklahoma Sooners’ long-standing football PPV went away in favor of an ESPN+ deal, and the idea of a The Match golf PPV fell apart over technical difficulties and eventually turned into a regular cable broadcast for the rest of the series.

So, with that context in mind, it’s notable to hear of a pay-per-view men’s basketball match between Gonzaga and Tennessee coming up. That match, the inaugural Legends of Basketball Classic, will take place on Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. Eastern from the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. It will come with a suggested retail price of $9.99 on all platforms, and proceeds will benefit the McLendon Foundation:

The charity exhibition between Gonzaga and Tennessee on October 28th in Frisco, Texas will be broadcasted LIVE on Pay Per View, per release. Proceeds from the event will benefit the McLendon Foundation.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 3, 2022

Gonzaga & Tennessee will play in the inaugural Legends of Basketball Classic charity exhibition game on Oct. 28 in Frisco, Texas. Proceeds benefit the McLendon Foundation, which aids people of color aspiring to be leaders in athletics by providing educational resources & mentors.

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 3, 2022

Here’s more on this from a release:

iNDEMAND will carry the game in the U.S. and Canada on its streaming service PPV.COM, and through cable, satellite, and telco PPV providers. Fans can stream the game live online at PPV.COM, the first PPV streaming service to offer interactive fan engagement during live-action sports events. PPV.COM’s ground-breaking digital video technology allows fans to engage in live chat with other fans & experts, as well as post fan-react videos and other activities. Customers can also order the Legends of Basketball Classic on TV through their cable, satellite, or telco providers, including Xfinity, Spectrum, Contour, Dish, Verizon Fios, Altice, and other leading providers. The suggested retail price will be $9.99 on all PPV platforms.

…Intersport, a sports marketing and events agency that will also manage the Aurora Health Care Brew City Battle, Citi Shamrock Classic, Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off, Elevance Health Women’s Fort Myers Tip-Off, CBS Sports Classic and Legends of Basketball Showcase during the non-conference season, will manage all ticketing, game operations and event production for the exhibition. The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) will serve as the title partner for the charity exhibition. Founded in 1992, the NBRPA serves former professional basketball players in their transition into life after…