One Night Only: Hoops for St. Jude® Tip Off Classic returns to FedExForum for evening of basketball and purpose

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--After debuting in 2024 to strong fan support, the Hoops for St. Jude^® Tip Off Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers returns to FedExForum on Oct. 27 to deliver another high-energy showcase of college basketball benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®.

Game schedule (airing on ESPNU, Central Time):

• 5:30 p.m. - University of Memphis women’s basketball vs. Vanderbilt University
• 8:00 p.m. - University of Memphis men’s basketball vs. University of Arkansas

Last year’s inaugural Tip Off Classic saw the University of Memphis Tigers take on the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. The event drew more than 8,000 fans to FedExForum to help St. Jude advance research and treatment of life-threatening childhood diseases.

“The Tip Off Classic is more than a game. It’s a powerful expression of what can happen when a community unites to hoop for hope,” said Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “It’s deeply meaningful to witness these incredible college programs take the court not just to compete, but to champion the mission of St. Jude. The energy in FedExForum, the pride of Memphis, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt, and the generosity of fans fuel the work St. Jude does for children with catastrophic diseases both here and around the world.”

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live. Funds raised through events like this help St. Jude extend that support around the world, including a recent collaboration to deliver childhood cancer medicines at no cost to five countries, part of a larger plan to reach 120,000 children in 50 countries.

When fans attend the Tip Off Classic, they help make this lifesaving work possible.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 9, at noon CT at ticketmaster.com and FedExForum box office.

Learn more about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.