Dick Vitale Receives Honor on 86th Birthday with New Invitational

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale is set to make a lasting mark on college basketball as ESPN announced the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational. This new annual basketball event will kick off with a much-anticipated showdown between the Duke Blue Devils and the Texas Longhorns on November 4, 2025, at Charlotte‘s Spectrum Center.

This announcement coincides with Vitale’s 86th birthday and comes as he prepares to continue his career at ESPN after signing a multi-year contract extension through the 2027-28 season. Vitale has been an influential figure in college basketball for decades and has been with ESPN since its inception in 1979.

No stranger to overcoming personal challenges, Vitale recently returned to broadcasting after a two-year hiatus due to cancer treatment. In an interview, he expressed gratitude for receiving honors while he is still alive. “So many times, awards and honors come to people after they’re long gone,” he said. “And to get it while you’re living is just a great, great feeling.”

Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events, emphasized Vitale’s significance in the sport. “For a lot of people, he represents the voice of the sport,” Overby said. “He embodies all that’s great about the sport.” Recognition for Vitale is not entirely new; he has a longstanding history of supporting cancer research and dedicating time to fundraising efforts.

Vitale highlighted the passion he feels when announcing games, calling it “the best medicine in the world.” He previously battled multiple forms of cancer but announced he was cancer-free last December. “I feel really good,” he stated. “I do it because I love it and I feel mentally sharp enough to do it.”

The inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational aims to honor Vitale’s profound influence on basketball as well as support ongoing research into pediatric cancer. The match, broadcasted on ESPN, marks an exciting new tradition in college basketball that will commemorate one of the sport’s most iconic voices.

As ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro noted, “Dick is the heart of college basketball.” Tribute events like the Invitational ensure that Vitale’s legacy will endure long after his time on the courtside ends.