O'Reilly Auto Parts Signs on as Title Sponsor of CBE Classic

Princeton, N.J. (July 18, 2007) – O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., one of the nation’s largest auto parts chains, has made a four-year commitment to become the title sponsor of the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, a 16-team men’s college basketball tournament.

This year’s event will tip-off Nov. 11-14 at four regional sites – Maryland, Michigan State, Missouri, and UCLA – and will culminate with the championship rounds Nov. 19-20 at the newly constructed Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. In addition to the tournament, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) will induct 12 former coaches and players into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, which is being built inside the Sprint Center, on Nov. 18.

The tournament was initially established in 2001 as the Guardians Classic, in partnership with the NABC. The event is now named after the College Basketball Experience, a college hoops fan interactive facility that is scheduled to open this year, as part of the Hall of Fame. The College Basketball Experience will be the nation's only facility that celebrates, in its entirety, the sport of college basketball.

"After attending last year's tournament, we saw the value of becoming the title sponsor and the CBE Classic quickly became a priority for us,” explained Ron Byerly, Vice President of Advertising and Marketing for O’Reilly. “It is not often that a company gets to put its name on a tournament with the caliber of teams that play in the CBE Classic, plus be a part of the enshrinement of some of the greatest players and coaches in college basketball history. We are truly honored that the CBE Classic selected O'Reilly Auto Parts as its title sponsor, for what we plan to be, a very long partnership.”

“We are extremely excited that O’Reilly has signed on as the title sponsor of the CBE Classic,” commented Rick Giles, President of the Gazelle Group – the organization that produces the tournament. “People associate a tremendous work ethic and sterling reputation with O’Reilly Auto Parts – they are a great company and a great partner for us. We could not be more pleased to be on the same team.”

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. is one of the largest specialty retailers of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories in the United States, serving both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. Founded in 1957 by the O’Reilly family, the company operates more than 1,600 stores nationwide. For more information on O’Reilly’s, please visit oreillyauto.com.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic is produced by The Gazelle Group in Princeton, N.J. The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally-recognized events, such as the 2K Sports College Hoops Classic benefitting Coaches vs. Cancer. For more information on The Gazelle Group, please visit the website at gazellegroup.com.

On-sale dates for tickets, as well as the full tournament bracket will be announced at a later date. For more information on the O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic, please visit the official tournament website at CBEClassic.com.