College Hoops Set for the Midway Museum in November

For the second fall in a row, a college basketball game will be played on an aircraft carrier – though this time not an active one – in San Diego Bay, with San Diego State and Syracuse facing off in the “Battle on the Midway,” organizers have announced.

The contest will take place at 4 p.m. Nov. 9 aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum near Navy Pier. It will one event in several days of festivities planned around Veterans Day, according to Syndicus Entertainment and the San Diego Sports Commission.

Last Veterans Day, in a game aboard the USS Carl Vinson that was dubbed . The game was broadcast by ESPN and attended by President Barack Obama.

The Navy said no active aircraft carrier would be available on the West Coast this fall. The promoter had been looking for an East Coast site for a game next season, and had also invited SDSU to play.

“The game is a great match-up, with west meeting east to kick off their seasons in beautiful San Diego in a nationally televised broadcast,” said the commission's Al Kidd. “We have a tremendous match-up that is sure to capture the interests of basketball fans and pay respect to our servicemen and servicewomen on this important national holiday.”

The Aztecs had a 26-8 record in the recently completed campaign and, earlier today, USA Today rated them 10th in projections for next season. The Orangemen were 34-3 and ranked number one this past year.

Other events surrounding this November's game include the Strikeouts For Troops gala and a Nov. 11 concert at the museum, hosted by Barry Zito, a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants who grew up in San Diego. The organizers said they expect the concert to be on national television.

A fan expo will be held along the Embarcadero in front of the museum.

The organizers said proceeds from the game will benefit veterans' organizations, while money from the gala will go to charities supported by Strikeouts for Troops.

– City News Service contributed to this report.