Pan-Pacific tourney to air on ESPN Classic

Story courtesy SUM Communications

NEW YORK (Monday, February 11, 2008) – Soccer United Marketing (SUM) today announced it has secured a U.S. television and broadband distribution agreement with ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com to broadcast the inaugural 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship, a new international soccer tournament to be held in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 20 and 23, 2008 that will feature the top clubs from the United States, Japan and Australia.

ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com will kick off its live and exclusive domestic coverage of the PPC on Wednesday, Feb. 20 with a match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the J.League’s Gamba Osaka at 6 pm local / 11:00 p.m. ET. Veterans Adrian Healy and Allen Hopkins will serve as play by play and color analyst on the broadcasts.

The four teams to participate in the 2008 PPC tournament are: reigning MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo and Haleiwa, Hawaii native Brian Ching; the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Champion Gamba Osaka, with J.League star Yasuhito Endo; the 2007 SuperLiga finalists Los Angeles Galaxy, whose international roster includes English superstar David Beckham and perennial MLS all-star Landon Donovan; and Sydney FC, with exciting young star Alex Brosque and World Cup Brazilian veteran, Juninho.

“We look forward to expanding our relationship with the ESPN networks on our international properties and are excited about being able to offer live coverage of the Pan-Pacific Championship to the U.S. mainland,” said Doug Quinn, SUM president.

For the inaugural PPC, SUM will manage the production of the international world feed under the direction of MLS/SUM Executive Producer Michael Cohen and Emmy award-winning director Michael Sheehan. The traveling crew will be comprised of over 40 television professionals combining skilled technicians with more than 12 years of soccer production experience, as well as top talent on the islands.

PPC television broadcast agreements with other regions around the world will be announced shortly.

ESPN Classic and ESPN 360.com Schedule of 2008 Pan-Pacific Championship Subject to change.

Wednesday, February 20