Progressive® Insurance to be Title Sponsor of CBE Classic

Progressive® Insurance to be Title Sponsor of CBE Classic
Missouri, Notre Dame, Cal, and Georgia to compete in Championship Rounds at Sprint Center

PRINCETON, N.J. – Progressive® Insurance has signed on as the title sponsor of the 2011 Progressive CBE Classic.

"Progressive car insurance is one of the most recognizable brand names in the country and we are proud that it will be the title sponsor of the Progressive CBE Classic," says Rick Giles, Gazelle Group president. "Year in and year out this event has been one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the college basketball season. Our association with Progressive will further enhance the event."

"Every year, the CBE Classic marks the start of the college basketball season with some of the best athletes in college sports, and we're proud to be a part of this annual tradition," says Dan Witalec, Progressive's media business leader. "On behalf of Progressive's 25,000 employees and 30,000 independent agencies, good luck to all the teams in this year's tournament."

The 2011 Progressive CBE Classic features 12 teams from across the country with Missouri, Notre Dame, California, and Georgia serving as the four Regional Round hosts. Play begins on Nov. 13. Each of the four Regional Round hosts will play two games on campus before advancing to the Championship Rounds, Nov. 21-22, at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.

Joining Missouri, Notre Dame, Cal, and Georgia in the 2011 Progressive CBE Classic are Austin Peay, Bowling Green, Detroit, George Washington, Mercer, Niagara, Sam Houston State, and South Dakota State. Bowling Green and Mercer will serve as Subregional Round hosts for games played Nov. 21-23.

ESPN networks will televise eight games of the Progressive CBE Classic, including all four games of the Championship Rounds. The semifinal doubleheader on Nov. 21 featuring Missouri-Notre Dame and Cal-Georgia will be shown on ESPN2, beginning at 7:30pm (ET). On Nov. 22, the consolation game will air on ESPNU at 7:45pm (ET), followed by the championship game on ESPN2.

Four Regional Round games will also be televised, beginning with two games on ESPNU on Nov. 13 - Bowling Green at Georgia (6:00pm ET) and George Washington at Cal (9:30pm ET). On Nov. 14, ESPNU will televise the Detroit at Notre Dame game at 9:00pm (ET) and on Nov. 15 the Austin Peay at Cal game will be seen on ESPN2 at 10:00pm ET.

The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy, and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever, and however it's most convenient for them - online at www.progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, or in-person with a local agent. Progressive offers insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. It's the fourth largest auto insurer in the country, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance, and a leader in commercial auto insurance. Progressive also offers car insurance online in Australia at http://www.progressiveonline.com.au.

The Progressive CBE Classic is produced by the Gazelle Group in Princeton, N.J. The Gazelle Group is a sports marketing firm, specializing in event production and management, client representation, and sponsorship consulting. Gazelle produces numerous nationally recognized events, such as the 2K Sports Classic, the TicketCity Legends Classic, the CBI presented by Zebra Pen, and the All-American Championship. The Gazelle Group is a member of USA Basketball. For more information on the Gazelle Group, please visit www.gazellegroup.com.

The event is named after the College Basketball Experience, the award-winning and highly interactive college hoops fan facility adjacent to Sprint Center, which also features the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Opened in October 2007, the College Basketball Experience is the nation's only facility that celebrates, in its entirety, the sport of men's collegiate basketball. The tournament, in partnership with the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), was initially established in 2001 as the Guardians Classic.